Age Strong NYC 

Policy Platform for New York City’s Future Leaders 

As New Yorkers, We All Deserve Health And Wellbeing As We Age

Introduction

New York City’s older adult population continues to grow, but our systems and policies have not kept pace with the needs for affordable housing, food and nutrition security, and building community infrastructure. Older adults remain vital contributors to our communities through volunteerism, caregiving, and civic participation—we need to invest, not divest, from services for our aging populations. LiveOn NY — together with advocacy partners, service providers, older New Yorkers and caregivers — launched the Age Strong NYC campaign to champion the bold investments that are needed to make New York City a more equitable and inclusive place to age regardless of wealth, racial disparities and other barriers.

Background: New York City is an Aging City

New York City has made some aging investments  in recent years supporting older New Yorkers, yet the reality remains: like the rest of the country and the world, New York City is aging—and it's happening faster than ever before. Older adults now make up a growing share of every neighborhood, representing a historic demographic shift. We know that older New Yorkers enrich our communities every day—through caregiving, volunteerism, civic engagement, and more. But we also know that hundreds of thousands face serious challenges: financial insecurity, social isolation, food and housing insecurity and worsening health outcomes. Many simply do not have the resources they need to survive, let alone thrive, as they age. These challenges are being compounded by federal rollbacks that threaten the already fragile safety net serving older adults across the city. 

Consider the following:

  • NYC Has Not Adequately Budgeted for Aging: NYC Aging receives just 0.5% of the City’s budget to support 1.4 million older New Yorkers. We are calling for bold investment in affordable housing, daily meal programs, and community-based services that meet basic needs.

  • NYC’s Housing Crisis is Growing: Over 500,000 older adults remain on waiting lists for affordable housing, while senior homelessness continues to rise. The City must expand access to affordable housing and rental assistance.

  • Food Insecurity Persists: An estimated 50–60% of older New Yorkers experience food insecurity. Current programs fall short. The City must ensure that food-insecure, homebound seniors receive three nutritious meals per day.

  • Failing Infrastructure is Dangerous for our Communities: Many older adult centers suffer from crumbling infrastructure. The City must invest in repairs and upgrades to ensure safe, accessible spaces for community connection and support.

The time to act is now.  New York City’s future leaders can, and must, lead this paradigm shift. New York City must lead by example—by investing in the services, programs, and infrastructure that allow us to age with dignity, independence, and joy.

AgeStrong NYC Platform: A Call to Invest in Our Future

New York City must back its values with investment and clarity of purpose when it comes to supporting older New Yorkers. Through the Age Strong NYC Campaign—endorsed by over 80 nonprofit aging organizations—we identify three core pillars that demand immediate attention and bold leadership. Each represents a vital need for older adults in our city, and we urge all future leaders to clearly outline how they will champion these priorities.

PILLAR 1: Ensure Food Security for Older New Yorkers because no older adult should have to choose between food, rent, or medicine. Access to nutritious meals is fundamental to our health, dignity, and independence as we age.

Future Leaders should:

Invest $500 Million Eliminate Elder Hunger Through Targeted Nutrition Programs 

  • Three Meals a Day – Guarantee home-delivered meals seven days a week for homebound older adults.

  • Expanded Food Access at Older Adult Centers – Add breakfast and grab-and-go options to reach more seniors.

  • SNAP Enrollment & Outreach – Connect every eligible older New Yorker with available food benefits.

PILLAR 2: Ensure Access to Affordable Housing because affordable, safe, and accessible housing is the foundation of healthy aging. Today, too many older New Yorkers are rent-burdened, on waitlists, or aging in unsafe conditions.

Future Leaders should: invest $1 Billion and enact legislative solutions to expand affordable housing for older New Yorkers to support:

  • Expanding Affordable Senior Housing – Fully fund the SARA program to build new, age-friendly housing.

  • Preserving Existing Housing – Protect HUD 202 buildings and other critical senior housing stock.

  • Strengthening Rental Assistance by meaningful reforms to the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)/Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Programs benefits to reflect today’s housing costs.

  • On-Site Services in Senior Housing – Fund supportive programs that help seniors age safely in place.

PILLAR 3: Invest in Community Care Solutions because social isolation is as harmful as chronic illness—and it's on the rise. NYC’s aging services network, including older adult centers and mental health programs, is stretched thin. These programs are not only common sense, they save the City money but prioritizing cost effective solutions. 

Future Leaders should invest $800 Million and enact legislative solutions to strengthen our communities by:

  • Revitalizing Older Adult Centers – Repair crumbling infrastructure and improve accessibility.

  • Expanding Social & Mental Health Services – Increase capacity to address loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

  • Creating Age-Inclusive Public Spaces – Invest in parks, libraries, and community centers that welcome and serve older adults.

A Call to Action: 

Together, these priorities form a blueprint for action. We urge every candidate and future NYC leader to speak clearly and boldly about how they will ensure older New Yorkers not only survive—but thrive and how to build an AgeStrong NYC for all of us as we age.

LiveOn NY is a 501(c)3 non-partisan organization and does not endorse, support, or oppose any political parties or candidates at any time.