Categories: New York State, Network Events
02.29.2024
Over 140 supportive housing staff and tenants traveled to Albany on February 28th to call on the Governor and the Legislature to ensure the state commits to saving first generation supportive housing funded by the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) and investing in the supportive housing workforce, starting by including a 3.2% COLA for direct service workers in the SFY 2024-25 budget expected to be passed shortly.
Network members met with over fifty-six legislators and staff to ask for support for both a commitment in this year’s budget to convert the 9,000 at-risk NYSSHP units to ESSHI through a five-year phased in approach, proposing a $32 million add on top of existing funding and a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment and extend the COLA to include NYSSHP providers in the budget for our workforce who are overworked and underpaid.
The Network’s lobby day was held in “the Well” of the Legislative Office Building’s this year to help showcase supportive housing and answer questions from Legislators and staff as they walk through this main area of the Legislative Office Building. We highlighted our policy priorities and set up posters with information about supportive housing for passersby.
The Network’s Executive Director Pascale Leone addressed the attendees over lunch voicing the need to fund NYSSHP and include a COLA in the upcoming budget. Assemblymember Maritza Davila, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Tenant Advocate and former Tenant of the Year Honoree Kenny Alvarez, and Program Director at New Destiny Louise Mcknie also joined us and addressed the more than 140 providers and tenants in attendance.
The State Senate included NYSSHP in their one house budget proposals with an anticipated final budget to be passed on March 28th.
See our Lobby Day Materials HERE.