New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today expressed strong concerns regarding the Human Resources Administration’s (HRA) oversight of the Back to Work Program.

In a letter to Commissioner Robert Doar – which can be viewed at www.comptroller.nyc.gov – Thompson stressed that Back to Work Program may not be adequately fulfilling its mission of moving welfare recipients into self-sufficiency

“I am especially concerned about this issue in light of both the program’s important goals and the fact that HRA’s Back to Work Program consumes approximately $53 million a year,” Thompson said. “Additionally, I have questions regarding whether this program will face even more challenges in meeting its goals given the current economic climate.”

The seven contracts associated with the Back to Work Program, valued at $160 million, are up for renewal and will soon be sent to the Comptroller’s office for registration. Thompson’s office submitted testimony today to the New York City Council General Welfare Committee, further outlining his concerns regarding the program’s low placement rates, lack of vendor action to improve job retention, and consequent high recidivism.

In his testimony – also available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov – Thompson outlined several recommendations as to how HRA can exert better oversight over the Back to Work Program.

“While the effort to link public assistance applicants and recipients with jobs is of paramount importance, there have been reports that performance under these contracts has not met stated goals,” Thompson said.

Thompson further outlined a series of questions that he feels HRA must address regarding the Back to Work Program’s performance, namely:

• What are the 3-year cumulative numbers for benchmark completion for the entire program and for each of the vendors?  
  
  
• What type of monitoring and oversight has HRA undertaken to assure that the documentation provided adequately reflects performance?
  
  
• For contract requirements that are not reflected in current milestone payment benchmarks [such as case management and connection of people to other services], what efforts are being taken to monitor the delivery of these additional services by vendors?

“It is especially important now, when our economy is troubled and City revenues are falling, that we spend the taxpayers’ money prudently,” Thompson said. “Therefore, before we renew these contracts we must do everything to ensure that we are getting our money’s worth.”

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