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Public commenter tells Tompkins County advisory committee the social safety net is 'unfathomably broken'
Summary
A public commenter named Andre urged WDIC to address gaps in the local social safety net and recommended outreach through Loaves and Fishes and consultations with economists to examine real‑estate subsidies and alternative community‑owned housing models.
During the June 22 meeting of the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, a public commenter identified as Andre criticized the local social safety net and urged the committee to engage directly with people experiencing housing insecurity. “The current system is unfathomably broken in the local area,” Andre said, describing unsafe conditions he said he’d observed in subsidized housing and calling for outreach at Loaves and Fishes and better consultation with economists to evaluate large real‑estate subsidies.
Andre recommended the county consider directing investment toward nonprofit, community‑owned housing and said first‑hand contact with service providers and residents would surface practical fixes. Committee members thanked Andre; Leon Holden offered to coordinate outreach and noted the county has a new director of community engagement at Loaves and Fishes whom the county could contact for tabling and conversations.
The comment was made during the public‑comment portion added to the agenda; the committee did not record any formal action in response but committee staff and members acknowledged the suggestion for further outreach and engagement with local providers.
