ALERT: Off the Fiscal Cliff Campaign

LiveOn NY is starting a new Campaign - OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF - and we need your help today. Here are the details:

• What we are advocating for: 1) Continued outreach efforts to spread awareness about the NY Rent Freeze Program AND 2) A policy change within the NY Rent Freeze Program so that rental costs are capped at 1/3 of a senior's income and for those already enrolled - a rollback to the 1/3 level.

• Purpose: LiveOn NY works closely with key partners including the NYC Department of Finance, Department for the Aging & Human Resource Administration to make sure each eligible older person is aware of the NY Rent Freeze Program. The public-private partnerships that are addressing under-enrollment in the program are a critical way to spread the awareness. We want to ensure these efforts continue and expand outreach, as we know that seniors are overburdened in housing costs. Often paying more than 50% of their income on rent, whether they are enrolled in NY Rent Freeze (SCRIE/DRIE) or not. Because the Rent Freeze Program is one of the key tools to preserve affordable seniors housing AND allows older adults' to remain at home as they age - we must ensure that NYC improve its policies to help seniors off the fiscal cliff.

• Who we are targeting: New York City and State Elected Officials, Policymakers and other key stakeholders

What you can do!

SIGN ON TO THE CAMPAIGN TODAY (Click here)

FORWARD THE SIGN-ON LINK TO YOUR CONTACTS

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA (info below)

More Facts about the issue:

• 200,000 older New Yorkers are on waiting lists for affordable senior housing, for an average of 7 years
• 4 out of 10 seniors report not knowing about NY Rent Freeze
• Too many seniors find out about their eligibility during an affordability crisis
• Almost 60% of seniors who are enrolled in SCRIE continue to experience heavy rent burden, with average annual incomes between $11,000 and $12,000. They find out about the benefit too late and cannot have the benefit “rolled-back” to an affordable level.
• NYC must rollback and cap rents at 1/3 of household income to help seniors off the fiscal cliff.
• Click here to check out our infographics highlighting the alarming SCRIE statistics.

Sign our Campaign. Share on Social Media. Be an Advocate

ALERT: Advocacy for $177 million for Aging Services

LiveOn NY’s State Legislative Conference Launches Statewide Advocacy Campaign To Fund And Modernize Aging Services!

$177 Million Multi-Year Package To Fund Services And Strengthen The Aging Services Workforce

WHAT IS HAPPENING:

• On February 1st, seventy five people from across NY state attended LiveOn NY’s conference. The multi-year $177 million budget agenda was discussed.
• Discussions about strengthening the aging services workforce, NY Connects, CSE funding for waiting lists, elder abuse and caregiving and other issues were discussed.
• Participants worked in small groups to discuss how these issues impacted their community and seniors they serve. They also brainstormed on ideas of how to do follow up locally.
• On February 2nd, visits were made to Assembymembers and Senators, to discuss the budget agenda.

WHAT YOU CAN DO – MAKING THE $177 MILLION AGENDA LOCAL

• The state budget will be completed by March 31st. It is important to meet with your local Assemblymembers and Senators as soon as possible. You can arrange for a private meeting and/or invite them to a local senior center or some other community site to specifically discuss the $177 million agenda.
• Click here to find contact information on your state Assemblymember.
• Click here to find contact information on your state Senator.
• At a senior center or other site, hold a budget forum with seniors asking questions about the budget agenda. They can choose 1-2 items to ask about. It’s more impactful to have seniors asking the questions.
• There may be priorities within the agenda that particularly impact you community. You can focus on those issues. Please give the legislators a copy of the whole $177 million agenda.
• Invite local press in to cover any meeting you have at a senior center or another public site. Take photos of the legislators and seniors to send to the press. Legislators could put the photos in their newsletter, website, Facebook, etc.
• Have seniors, agency staff, and other community leaders make phone calls and send letters to your state Assemblymember(s) and Senator(s). You can put them in bulk in a large envelope and mail to the legislator’s Albany office. Model letters are included with this alert that you can print out. Go to the websites above to find contact information and mailing addresses for your legislators.

Model Letters

State Assembly letter - English
State Assembly letter - Spanish
State Assembly letter - Chinese
State Senate letter - English
State Senate letter - Spanish
State Senate letter - Chinese