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!