Policy updates & resources
Every two weeks, LiveOn NY distributes a policy update collecting updates on federal, state, and city aging policy. See below for our latest policy update.
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Policy Update for 10/31/2025
November is National Family Caregivers Month and National Home Care and Hospice Month.
Resources for SNAP Freeze
On November 1, without intervention, SNAP benefits will be frozen. LiveOn NY has published a statement demanding that the federal government release contingency funds to fully fund SNAP benefits and has compiled a list of resources for advocates. Both can be found below.
NYC Food Maps:
NYS Official Resources Page: ny.gov/FoodAssistance
NYC Official Food Finder: Map
Food Bank for NYC: NYC Food Map
NY Common Pantry: Pantries in Harlem and the Bronx
City Harvest: NYC Food Map
The Latest on SNAP:
NYS Press Office: Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency
NYC Press Office: Mayor Adams Announces Emergency Response
NYC OTDA: State Updates to SNAP
NYC HRA: City Updates to SNAP
Hunger Free America Letter: Protect SNAP During the Federal Shutdown
Hunger Solutions NY: Toolkit: SNAP 11/1/25 Changes
Federal Updates
Shutdown: The government shutdown has now entered its 31st day and is expected to continue through the weekend as the Senate adjourns. Resources on the shutdown: a) Catholic Charities of New York: Furloughed Worker Relief Program, b) Shutdown Report: Tracker of Impacts Broadly + by State, and c) NCN: Government Shutdowns Impact; What Should Nonprofits Do?
SNAP Freeze: See LiveOn’s statement here and press coverage here. At the federal level, growing pressure is mounting on USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to release SNAP contingency funds and grant transfer authority to ensure full November benefits. Urgent letters calling for action have been sent by Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, House and Senate Democrats, the Circle of Protection (a coalition of faith-based groups), and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, among others. Take Action by using FRAC’s digital toolkit to put pressure on USDA to use its authority to ensure that full November SNAP benefits are released.
Older Americans Act Hearing: Next Wednesday, November 5, the Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing on how the Older Americans Act (OAA) supports families living with aging-related diseases. Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand will underscore the need to reauthorize the OAA to sustain community-based services that help older adults and people with disabilities live independently. The Ranking Member is inviting input: please send suggested questions for witnesses to Catherine_Paul@gillibrand.senate.gov by Monday, November 3, and statements for the record to Hans_Hansen@aging.senate.gov by Wednesday, November 12.
Health Care Affordability Crisis: The Republican reconciliation bill (HR 1) would raise health costs and reduce coverage for older adults. With ACA tax credits at risk, a new KFF analysis details how these changes could impact adults 50 and older. Read more from Medicare Rights Center here.
State Updates
State of emergency due to SNAP: Gov. Hochul Declares State of Emergency, over $100M in State Funds. The funds include $25 million for Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), $25 million for Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), $10 million for the Nourish New York program, and $5 million to expand food distribution capacity. Read our statement here. LiveOn NY urges federal, state, and city leaders to release the $5–6 billion in SNAP contingency funds to New York, provide additional resources to close the $2–3 billion gap left by federal cuts, and fully fund senior center and home-delivered meal programs to ensure older New Yorkers don’t go hungry.
HEAP: The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) which provides financial help for heating, cooling, and energy-related costs for over 1.4 million New York households, has delayed its application period because of the federal shutdown. This delay affects other state programs that depend on HEAP eligibility, leaving many older and low-income New Yorkers without critical energy assistance as colder weather begins. The Public Utility Law Project (PULP) and AARP-NY wrote this letter to Governor Hochul, urging the state to open HEAP on November 3rd, as originally scheduled, and to provide the necessary funding to maintain benefits until federal funds are restored. See PULP’s roundup of the status of winter utility resources here or for spanish here.
Grant Funding Available: The Latinos United for Change Coalition (LUCHA) has opened an RFP with grants up to $500,000 available to support nonprofit programs in language access, civic education, workforce training, and educational advancement across New York State. Applications due: Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. View the PDF of the budget template here, and apply here.
SOMOS: Find LiveOn at SOMOS Puerto Rico! Join us at our reception “Age Strong New York: La Edad Trae Poder” on Saturday Nov 8 at 10am-12pm.
City Updates
Election News: Early voting is still underway in this year’s citywide election. The Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, and City Councilmembers are on the ballot. There are also 6 ballot proposals concerning upstate parkland for the Olympics, affordable housing development, city maps and recordkeeping, and city election timing. Here are the recent polls showing the current state of the mayoral race.
Housing Ballot Questions: We have taken a supporting position on ballot proposals 2, 3, and 4. Read more in City Limits.
SNAP: Mayor Adams issued an Emergency Response to the SNAP Freeze here. NYC is allocating $15 million in emergency funding for food assistance to food pantries and providers who are on-the-ground, and is coordinating its efforts through the Mayor’s Office on Food Policy. Information on updates and food resources can be found here. NYC is also encouraging older adults to visit older adult centers for meals and contact Aging Connect for more support and information. NYC Aging programs that are seeing seeing increasing demand at your centers and programs and who need additional funding to meet those needs should reach out immediately to NYC Aging to let them know - contact your Program Officer and NYC aging at CFO@aging.nyc.gov
Immigrant Service Provider Panel Discussion: NYLAG is part of the Pro Se Plus Project (PSPP), a collaboration of several immigration legal services providers and community based organizations supporting immigrants in New York City, is hosting a panel discussion for non-immigration service providers on Tuesday, 11/18/25, at 4:30 pm. Register here.
$5 Million News: Thanks to the strong advocacy of the AgeStrong NYC coalition and our members the Speaker allocated $5 million dollars in expense finding to dozens of older adult centers across the city. Read more in Gothamist.
NYCHA Center News: We have heard from a number of members who run centers in NYCHA facilities that received capital funding from the state that the funding has been inaccessible due to site control rules and the lack of a lease in a NYCHA space. If you find yourself in this position please reach out to kkiprovski@liveon-ny.org with your story, we are working on finding solutions to this issue.
Resources
John A. Hartford Foundation Poll: Age-Friendly Insights Poll: Bipartisan Public Support for Older Americans Act Programs. Click here.
NYC Independent Budget Office Report: Focus on Lower-Income Households. Click here.
Justice in Aging Fact Sheet: Open Enrollment for 2026 Coverage through Medicare & the Marketplace—Basics for Advocates. Click here.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest & Lawyers Alliance for New York: Updated Guidance On Preparing Your Nonprofit For Immigration Enforcement. Click here.
NY Health Foundation Report: No One Should Age Hungry: Addressing Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in New York State. Click here.
Justice in Aging Issue Brief: Expanding Medicare to Include Dental: A Path to Better Oral Health in Nursing Facilities. Click here.
Human Services Council: SOMOS Puerto Rico 2025 Digital Resources. Click here.
Upcoming Events
SOMOS: LiveOn NY will be at the 2025 SOMOS Puerto Rico Conference which is taking place from November 5-9, 2025. Early bird registration ends on July 31.
LiveOn NY Trainings
11/12/25: Supporting Older Adults Impacted by Incarceration, virtual. Click here.
11/19/25: Elder Justice Series: Safety Planning, virtual. Click here.
12/4/25: Ethics in Aging and Mental Health, virtual. Click here.
12/11/25: Supporting People with Dementia & Their Care Partners, virtual. Click here.
Partner Events
11/4/25: NonProfit Help Desk: Reignite Your Nonprofit Team: How to Prevent Staff Burnout and Boost Morale. Click here.
11/13/25: NonProfit Help Desk: NYC Council Discretionary Funding: What is it and how to apply. Click here.
11/18/25: NonProfit Help Desk: Budgeting with Confidence: A Nonprofit Leader’s Guide. Click here.
11/20/25: NonProfit Help Desk: Get Registration Ready for 2026 NYC Council Discretionary Applications. Click here.
10/2025 - 11/2025: Child Welfare League of America: The Moral Injury Training Series: Understanding, Healing, + Building Resilience. Click here.
Amalgamated Bank’s Free Webinars: Click here.
LiveOn NY maintains strong connections with critical policy partners across the federal, state, and local levels to effectively advocate for aging New Yorkers and advance our mission with timely, informed strategies. See some of our key partners below:
