March 24, 2025
Governor Hochul, the NYS Senate, and the NYS Assembly have each issued their first budget proposals. Over the next two weeks, they’ll negotiate, adding and subtracting things from their proposals until they agree on one final spending plan for our state for 2025-26.
Here’s the good news: The Senate and the Assembly each included a 7.8% investment in Human Services in their proposals. The governor, however, included only a modest 2.1% increase in her proposal. The time is now to acknowledge the Senate and Assembly for being responsive to our needs, and to urge the governor to listen to the will of the people.
Let’s make sure they hear us. On, Monday, March 24, we’re asking you to make three calls:
1. Governor Kathy Hochul: 518.474.8390
Tell the governor that the Human Services sector needs a full 7.8% investment in Human Services to support life-changing services for all New Yorkers.
2. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518.455.3791
3. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 518.455.2585
Tell them that we appreciate that they included a 7.8% investment in Human Services in the budget, and to keep fighting for our sector.
The staff who answer the phones might ask you where you live, so they know what part of the state supports this initiative. That’s important because they’re keeping track of support for this initiative, and that’s how we can make a change.
We can make great things happen if we stand together. Thank you for your advocacy!
February 24, 2025
Organizations like Northern Rivers have been the backbone of our community for as long as there’s been a New York State. Every society has people who need help, and Human Services organizations have always been there to provide it, no matter what has gone on in the world around us.
Even in the best of times, people need support with challenges like mental health, child welfare, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence, hunger, and homelessness. When things get tougher, these critical services are more important than ever.
The need for Nonprofit Human Services support is at an all-time high. We need to ensure that our workforce is fortified, that our infrastructure is robust, and that we have the agility to respond to new and unexpected challenges. We need help.
New York State needs to invest 7.8% in Human Services in this year’s budget. And we need your help to get us there.
This Wednesday, February 26, we’re asking you to make two calls:
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518.455.3791
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 518.455.2585
Just give them a call and tell them that New York State needs to invest 7.8% in Human Services in the budget. The staff who answer the phones might ask you where you live, so they know what part of the state supports this initiative. That’s important because they’re keeping track of support for this initiative, and that’s how we can make a change.
That’s it! It takes about two minutes, and it can make a huge difference.
January 25, 2025
Governor Hochul’s 2025-26 Executive Budget proposal prioritizes affordability, safety, and economic development—issues we all care about.
While we appreciate the proposed 2.1% increase for Human Services, it falls short of the 7.8% we have advocated for to address rising costs and support our essential workforce. Human Services workers are first responders to crises like child abuse, mental health, addiction, and hunger—yet many earn wages that leave them at the poverty level. New York State must do more.
If you're reading this, you know how vital our work is. The Human Services sector drives safety and economic development while making a real difference in people’s lives—often while working multiple jobs to stay afloat.
We need your help to ensure our elected officials hear us loud and clear: Invest 7.8% in the Human Services sector.
Please reach out to your NYS representatives and share this simple message via email or phone call:
"My name is _________, I live in ________, and I believe the Human Services sector is the key to an affordable, safe, and healthy New York. I encourage you to invest 7.8% in Human Services in the NYS Budget."
Find your representatives here:
Together, we can make a difference. Let’s ensure our voices are heard!
January 14, 2025
Feelings of positivity and excitement were everywhere at Governor Hochul’s State of the State address today. We heard a lot of optimism about initiatives that will improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. While we did not hear specifics about investing 7.8% in vital Human Services that would translate that optimism into reality for vulnerable New Yorkers, we do look forward to seeing specifics on support for vital mental health, child welfare, and other vital programs when the budget book comes out next week. Here’s hoping that as a state we do what’s necessary to make real progress.
December 18, 2024
Governor Hochul and her team are working on next year’s New York State budget, and it’s critical that Human Services funding is prioritized in her budget proposal in January. Over the past few years, we’ve seen Human Services receive small increases in the budget—but they’ve never met the growing needs of our sector.
These increases have been appreciated, but they haven’t even kept up with rising costs. We’ve done the math, and the numbers show that we’ve fallen 7.8% further behind in recent years. And we can’t fall any further behind. We need to grow to meet the growing needs of our community.
How do we make things grow? By investing in them. That’s why we’re calling on our leaders to take action We’re asking them to invest in us:
Invest 7.8% in Human Services.
Demand for human services that help with critical challenges like mental health, child welfare, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence, hunger, and homelessness continues to skyrocket. At the same time, our workforce is shrinking due to low wages, difficult responsibilities and the cost of inflation. Agencies are experiencing 30% turnover rates and have thousands of unfilled jobs.
In addition, 60% of employees in the sector work in jobs with an average salary of $36,000/yr. Per federal guidelines, the poverty level for a household size of 2 is $37,814. So, if you’re a single parent with one child, you’re basically at the poverty level while providing life-saving services to vulnerable New Yorkers.
Let’s make a real impact. Let’s speak with one voice and urge the governor to stand up for vulnerable New Yorkers and the workforce that stands ready to help them when they need it most. Let’s take action.
How can you help? Stand up and be heard. Call the governor’s office at 518.474.8390 and tell her you support a 7.8% investment in Human Services!