Expanding affordable public transit: VOA-GNY Testimony on Improving Fair Fares
Introduction and Thanks
My name is Eric Lee, Director of Public Policy for Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY). We are the local affiliate of the national organization, Volunteers of America, Inc. (VOA). I would like to thank Chair Hudson and Members of the General Welfare and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees for the opportunity to submit testimony.
About Us
VOA-GNY is an anti-poverty organization that aims to end homelessness in Greater New York through housing, health and wealth building services. We are one of the region’s oldest and largest human service providers, founded 130 years ago and serving more than 12,000 adults and children annually through 70+ programs in New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Westchester and thousands more via our Operation Backpack® initiative. We are also an active nonprofit developer of supportive and affordable housing, with a robust portfolio of permanent supportive housing, affordable and senior housing properties—with more in the pipeline. VOA-GNY is a member of Homeless Services United (HSU), The Supportive Housing Network of New York, the Human Services Council (HSC), and the Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC).
Background
VOA-GNY has been providing shelter services to homeless families since 1991 when DHS first began contracting with nonprofits to do so. We operate five DHS transitional housing programs for families in the New York metropolitan area which serve 456 families, three DHS “emergency” shelters serving an additional 244 families, seven HRA Domestic Violence programs serving families and individuals fleeing domestic violence, two DHS adult women’s shelters, one DHS adult men’s shelter, a DHS safe haven for unsheltered individuals, and a DHS Street to Home Pilot program which utilizes a Housing First approach to place individuals experiencing unsheltered street homelessness directly into supportive housing within 1 to 2 weeks of first meeting them.
Thank you, Speaker Menin, Chair Hudson and Chair Abreu and Members of the General Welfare Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, for your steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding access to public benefits and services for New Yorkers in need.
VOA-GNY supports the Council’s goal of strengthening access to public transit for low-income New Yorkers through improvements to the Fair Fares program. Low-income New Yorkers rely on public transit to go to work, go to appointments with their healthcare providers, bring their children to school, and access public benefits and community-based services. New York can do more to ease access and improve the efficacy of this critical program so that more low-income households can more easily reach their destinations every day, while trying to make ends meet.
Legislation Considered
Int 248-2026: VOA-GNY supports the creation of a system to enable DSS/HRA to automatically enroll individuals in City-created benefits programs, like Fair Fares, to maximize the number of eligible households receiving this beneficial program, given a fraction of currently eligible households are enrolled, years after its inception.
Int 825-2026: VOA-GNY supports requiring the City to reissue replacement transit benefit cards for Fair Fares NYC participants when their current card is lost, stolen, or damaged, as is practice for other reduced-fare transit cards. Reduced-fare cards help New Yorkers with limited incomes to make ends meet and keep them connected to their jobs, healthcare providers, and children’s schools, and support networks. Without a timely way to replace Fair Fare cards, participants would be forced to jump through hoops reapplying for a brand-new card, lengthening the amount of time without a card and potentially unable to make important to make it to important appointments and responsibilities.
Res 52-2025: VOA-GNY supports this resolution calling on the NYS Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.3887A/A7316A to increase eligibility for Fair Fares up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), automatically offer it to eligible individuals, and expand Fair Fares to also include discounted rides for Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road and Access-A-Ride.
Bringing Fair Fares income limits up to 200% of FPL would help to remove confusion about eligibility by conforming with common income standards for various other assistance programs, while helping more low-income New Yorkers access reduced fare rides. Expanding Fair Fares to include other forms of mass transit will better suit the needs of low-income New Yorkers who may have jobs or community resources just outside the five boroughs.
Res 143-2026: VOA-GNY supports this resolution calling on the NYS Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation creating unlimited free transfers for subways and buses within the two-hour period of paying-per-ride for an MTA bus or subway. As New Yorkers are displaced through gentrification, rising rents, and increased cost of living, they find themselves chasing affordability in the outer boroughs further away from their jobs, schools, and support networks. With these longer commutes, one free transfer is not always sufficient to reach one’s destination. Families in shelter face hours long commutes from the Bronx to Brooklyn, for their children’s school or work, and every dollar matters. Enabling unlimited transfer for low-income riders keep more money in their pockets.
In Conclusion
Thank you Speaker Menin, Chair Hudson, and Chair Abreu and Members of the Council for your unwavering support of low-income New Yorkers. By expanding eligibility, easing access, and increasing the transit lines covered by Fair Fares, more New Yorkers will be able to more affordably take advantage of our robust mass transit system to go to work, bring their children to school, and maintain their health and connections to their communities. Through your leadership, New York City can continue to be an affordable place to call home.
Testimony respectfully submitted on behalf of Volunteers of America- Greater New York by Eric Lee.