Age Strong Coalition Says Older Adults Left Out Of New York Budget

The Age Strong Coalition, comprised of statewide service providers and advocacy organizations that support older New Yorkers and their families, is concerned that older adults are missing from the Governor’s fight for families.

Policies that support healthy aging, economic security, caregiving, housing stability, and access to essential services are vital to support New York’s rapidly aging population, particularly as the number of older New Yorkers living below the poverty line has increased 50 percent over the last decade.

From the Governor’s report, New York is in a strong financial position, yet disappointingly, funding for critical aging services remains flat, while 70,000 older adults, outside of New York City, unacceptably continue to languish on waitlists. There was a $3 million investment in developing the State’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) since the Governor's Executive Order, but no new money has been granted to implement the recommendations. With more than 4.3 million caregivers in New York, this was a time for needed action to give relief to both families and their loved ones.

The MPA was a tremendous first step towards putting our older family members first. However, the current FY2027 budget fails to make good on the commitment; it must accommodate the proposals made by hundreds of aging advocates, approved by the governor’s staff at DOH and SOFA, and fully fund aging services.

The Age Strong Coalition remains committed to working with policymakers, advocates, and community partners to achieve the full implementation of the MPA. Older New Yorkers deserve nothing less.

Age Strong Coalition Calls for Full Funding of Governor Hochul’s Master Plan for Aging

The Age Strong Coalition, comprised of statewide service providers and advocacy organizations that support Older New Yorkers and families, aligns with the limited aging proposals put forth by Governor Hochul in her 2026 State of the State address.

As New York’s population continues to age, policies that support healthy aging, economic security, caregiving, housing stability, and access to essential services are increasingly important. 

The recent release of the State’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) signified a deep commitment to supporting older adults and their families. The forthcoming budget proposals must reflect that promise.

The Age Strong Coalition remains committed to the full implementation of the MPA and working with policymakers, advocates, and community partners to achieve this goal.

"The State of the State included limited conversation and proposals for aging services" said Becky Preve, Executive Director of the Association on Aging in New York. "We are hopeful that the state of the state address that failed to acknowledge older adults and caregivers is not indicative of the executive budget. Governor Hochul needs to utilize her recently published Master Plan for Aging to fund aging services and supports in a meaningful way."

“AARP is encouraged by the affordability proposals included in today’s State of the State,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “We stand ready to work with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure the full implementation of the Master Plan.”

“Today’s remarks made clear that there is still significant work to be done to ensure New Yorkers can age with dignity,” said Allison Nickerson, Executive Director at LiveOn NY. “We appreciate additional N/NORC funding and SCRIE expansion among other proposals, but realizing the full vision of the Master Plan for Aging will require substantially greater funding. The state made a bold initial investment in creating the MPA, and we look forward to building on our momentum to move from plan to action.”

More about the Age Strong coalition can be found at www.liveon-ny.org/age-strong. 

LiveOn NY Congratulates Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani On His Victory

New York, NY – Last night, Zohran Kwame Mamdani won a historic election to be the 111th mayor of New York City. LiveOn NY issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Mayor-Elect Mamdani on his decisive victory following a moving campaign which spoke to anxieties all older New Yorkers face – that the city they helped build is becoming more and more unaffordable,” said Allison Nickerson, Executive Director of LiveOn NY. “In many ways, his aims are the same as ours: to make housing, nutrition and community affordable for older New Yorkers. We’re excited to work with his administration to ensure that New Yorkers can age in dignity.”

LiveOn NY’s Age Strong campaign is continuing its advocacy for New Yorkers at the state and city level, calling for bold investments in affordable housing, food and nutrition, and community infrastructure to allow New Yorkers to age in dignity. More information on LiveOn NY can be found at our website: www.liveon-ny.org/. 

If you would like more information, please contact Frank Shintaro McMullin, Communications Specialist at LiveOn NY, at fmcmullin@liveon-ny.org or at (408) 620-0694.

AARP new york, Public Utility Law Project of New York Send Open Letter to Governor Hochul Urgently Requesting HEAP Assistance

AARP New York and the Public Utility Law Project of New York sent an open letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on October 30, 2025 urgently requesting that the state opens the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) as scheduled on November 3rd to ensure that New Yorkers in need receive heating assistance. The letter can be viewed in full below.

October 30, 2025

Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of the State of New York
Executive Chamber
NYS Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

                        Re: Providing New Yorkers in Need with Heating Assistance – HEAP

Dear Governor Hochul:

Our organizations applaud your leadership in providing a total investment of $106 million in new State funds for emergency food assistance that will reinforce New York’s network of vital food bank and pantry partners and provide millions of meals to hungry New Yorkers.

That leadership is urgently needed to address another crisis—ensuring people can heat and power their homes this heating season. We urge you to open the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) as scheduled on November 3rd and to provide the necessary funding to maintain benefits until federal funds are restored.

If the funding issue is not resolved and the program cannot open on November 3, we believe the only responsible course of action would be for you to call for a statewide moratorium on utility service terminations for all residential electric, gas, and combination companies, including the Long Island Power Authority, until HEAP is restored and sorely needed benefits can once again reach eligible households.

We believe this is not the time to delay heating assistance. New York State is in the middle of an energy affordability crisis: more than 1.2 million households are currently over 60 days behind on their energy bills, collectively owing nearly $2 billion. In September alone, more than 53,000 terminations occurred statewide, about 1,800 individual households each day.

Our state’s largest utility, Con Edison, which serves households in New York City and Westchester County, has disconnected over 140,000 households for non-payment since January —an average of 15,500 households a month. This rate of termination has reached a historic peak, unmatched since the economic downturn of the late 2000s.

These risks extend beyond low-income households. If the federal government remains shut down, thousands of federal employees will lose income indefinitely, leaving them unable to meet basic expenses, including utility bills.

As you know, HEAP is a lifeline for millions of low-income New Yorkers, including older persons on fixed incomes, providing critical heating assistance during the winter months. According to your own data, the program served more than 1.5 million households last year, many of which include vulnerable individuals such as older adults.

Our state cannot sit idly by while service terminations continue without the safety net HEAP provides. We once again urge you to open HEAP as scheduled on November 3rd and provide the resources needed to protect New Yorkers from being left without heat this winter. If that is not possible, we urge you to initiate a statewide moratorium on utility service terminations for all energy utilities, including the Long Island Power Authority, until HEAP funds are restored.

Sincerely,

Beth Finkel, AARP NY State Director         

Laurie Wheelock, PULP Executive Director

CC:

Rory Christian,

Chief Executive Officer

NYS Department of Public Service

Carrie Meek Gallagher

Chief Executive Officer

Long Island Power Authority

Barbara C. Guinn

Commissioner

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Appendix 

1.    September 2025 Collections Activity Reports filed by the utilities in Case No. 91-M-0744.

LiveOn NY Statement on SNAP Cuts and Resources for Advocates

LiveOn NY calls on federal government to release contingency funds to fully fund SNAP

New York, NY – Currently, SNAP benefits will not be available for New Yorkers on November 1st due to the federal shutdown. No solution has been proposed to fully guarantee that funds will be available for the 3 million New Yorkers, 21% of whom are age 60 or older, who rely on SNAP for their daily meals. While the state of New York has appropriately declared a state of emergency, advancing over $100 million to fund parallel food assistance programs and distributing food to children at school, many older New Yorkers will have to make untenable decisions to afford their food. LiveOn NY issued the following statement:

“It is outrageous that 3 million New Yorkers’ meals – which have already been paid for – are being withheld as part of the political brinksmanship going on in the Capitol,” said Allison Nickerson, Executive Director at LiveOn NY. “These are not intellectual concerns or soundbites for TV. We’re talking about older and marginalized New Yorkers who are going to have to choose between meals and rent. This cannot continue, and federal officials must release contingency funds to ensure that we have the meals we need.” 

LiveOn NY is advocating for federal, state and city officials to:

  • Immediately release the $5-6 billion in SNAP contingency funds to New York State to ensure that a larger portion of November benefits can be funded.

  • Transfer additional funds to cover the remainder of the $2-3 billion shortfall, following the precedent set in October to fund WIC benefits.

  • Fully fund and utilize the aging service system to ensure that senior center meals and home-delivered meals are available to older New Yorkers who need them.

Here are resources for older New Yorkers and advocates:

NYC Food maps:

The latest on SNAP: 

Relevant news articles:

LiveOn NY’s Age Strong campaign is continuing its advocacy for New Yorkers at the state and city level, calling for bold investments in affordable housing, food and nutrition, and community infrastructure to allow New Yorkers to age in dignity.

LiveOn NY will continue to monitor the situation to keep providers and advocates informed as details emerge. More information on LiveOn NY can be found at our website: www.liveon-ny.org/. 

If you would like more information, please contact Frank Shintaro McMullin, Communications Specialist at LiveOn NY, at fmcmullin@liveon-ny.org or at (408) 620-0694.

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