Categories: Funding, New York State
03.18.2016
Over 100 Network members came to Albany on March 8th.
Network members, tenants & staff meet with Senator Martin Malave Dilan (left) and Senator Frank Skartados (right).
Over 100 Network members came to Albany on March 8th to call on the Legislature to ensure that the state commits adequate resources towards the first phase of the Governor’s plan to build 20,000 units of supportive housing statewide over 15 years. We met with over ninety legislators and staff to ask for support for both this new supportive housing program while also advocating for critically important existing services and housing programs currently serving formerly homeless individuals and families.
We held important meetings with the chairs of the Mental Hygiene committees to strongly advocate for rate increases in OMH housing, particularly scattered site supported, sharing results of research into the devastating effects of low rates have on our members, tenants and staff alike.
Supportive housing providers and tenants came from all over the state, from Buffalo to Plattsburgh to Long Island to express the need for increased funding for the NYS Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) and the Solutions to End Homelessness Program, sharing stories from both staff and tenants about how critical these service programs are in their communities.
Finally, we addressed our members concerns about a lack of state funding to support much needed increases to the minimum wage. The Network is part of a campaign to ensure that the state does the right thing by paying for increases to the state supported not- for-profit workforce. We were proud to be joined by Marisa Rodriguez, who works as a security staff with Urban Pathways, who spoke eloquently about the how much a $15/hour wage would improve her life.
Both the Assembly and Senate released their one house budget bills just a few days after Advocacy Day. The Assembly accepted the Governor’s proposal to fund the first 6,000 units and added an additional $30 million for upstate scattered site units. The Senate also expressed support for the new program, but with no clear detail on the number of units. In addition, the Assembly proposed an add of $9.5 million for NYSSHP and STEHP while the Senate proposed flat funding both programs at the Governor’s level. The Assembly also acknowledged the minimum wage issue by including an additional $200 million for health related professions. Unfortunately this does not include supportive housing providers.
The first budget conference committee meetings have been held and negotiations have started. We expect a budget to be passed by April 1.