FY18 City Budget Update: $22.8 Million in Baselined Funding for Senior Services in the Year of the Senior!!!

After spending the entire day at City Hall Friday to continue to advocate for senior services funding, LiveOn NY was on hand into the night to witness the “budget handshake” between Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, signaling an agreement on the FY18 City budget.

While details are still being discussed, and a final vote on the entire budget is expected this week, LiveOn NY was pleased that Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito announced an influx of $22.8 million baselined dollars for senior services funding in the FY18 budget.  A City Council announcement Friday night highlighted this funding with the following graphic:      

In addition, the city announced an additional allocation of $30 million in FY18 growing to $104 million in FY22 to provide enhanced resources and support to nonprofit service providers. Again, more details will be coming soon on this allocation as well as all the funding announced at the press conference.

LiveOn NY members were a vital part of the team that advocated for this funding, having sent an amazing 21,000 letters to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viverito and their Council Members over the last 2 months, in addition to over 300 seniors attending Advocacy Day at City Hall in May.  This is an incredible show of strength of the aging network and older New Yorkers, and our members played an active and successful role in winning this funding.

LiveOn NY especially acknowledges the leadership of City Council Aging Committee Chair and champion Margaret Chin for her persistence and fierce advocacy, and who one year ago delcared that this would be the Year of the Senior.  LiveOn NY also thanks Mayor de Blasio, Department for the Aging (DFTA) Commissioner Donna Corrado and the City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and Subcommittee on Senior Centers Chair Paul Vallone. Led by Council Members Chin and Vallone, the entire City Council was instrumental in making this the Year of the Senior.

As always, we will need to gather more specifics on this funding to understand how it will be implemented, but LiveOn NY views this announcement as an important recognition of both the need for funding to allow seniors to thrive in their communities, as well as an understanding of the work senior service agencies do to make New York a better place to age.  LiveOn NY will be gathering further details and will keep you apprised of specifics in the upcoming months.

Thank you for your partnership in advocacy and being part of this important work.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and City Council Members at budget handshake Press Conference on June 2, 2017.

For more information, contact Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy at  bsackman@liveon-ny.org or 212-398-6565 X226 or Andrea Cianfrani, Deputy Director of Public Policy at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org or 212-398-6565 X233.

LiveOn NY Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - June 15, 2017

Join LiveOn NY as we recognize:

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 
Thursday June 15, 2017

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

LiveOn NY joins efforts in New York and nationwide on Thursday June 15, 2017 to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  See below for information, resources and ideas on how you can be part of the efforts to support victims and service providers, as well as be part of the solution to address this problem.

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Website: run through the USC Center on Elder Mistreatment, this informative site includes toolkits, banners, signs, events in your community and more.
• Connect with the NYPD in your community on June 15:  Click here to see where the NYPD Domestic Violence Unit Chief and Officers will be citywide on June 15 as part of their community outreach efforts on elder abuse. Staff and volunteers from LiveOn NY's Senior Medicare Patrol program will also join the NYPD at many of these precinct outreach events on June 15 - we hope to see you there citywide!
• Connect with the DFTA Elder Abuse services provider in your borough to learn about services and training. Borough-based elder abuse services providers can be found on DFTA’s website by clicking here or dialing 311 and asking for help with elder abuse in your borough.
• Click here to print out the poster form the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) and display and distribute it so others can learn about how to report elder abuse and connect to resources through 311. 
• Learn about the Senior Medicare Patrol: The New York Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is part of a nationwide education and assistance program working to empower seniors and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud and waste. You can report suspected problems to SMP hotline at 1-877-678-4697. LiveOn NY’s staff and trained volunteers work to correct errors and report abuse of the Medicare system to government authorities. Click here to learn more. 
•  Attend the JASA 12th Annual NYC Elder Abuse Conference, which takes place onWednesday June 14, 2017 and feature keynote speaker Liz Loewy, General Counsel at EverSafe; Pioneering Legal Expert, Author and Lecturer in the field of Elder Justice. Click here for the full agenda and to register today.
•  Visit LiveOn NY's Elder Abuse Resources page for links to research and advocacy news year round.

Have an event or resource you'd like to add?  Let Andrea know at acianfrani@liveon-ny.org.

Thank you for helping us make New York a better place to age.

NEWS on the City Budget

LiveOn NY Op-Ed in the Gotham Gazette

The Mayor's Moment to Show His Commitment to Seniors

May 19, 2017 | by Allison Nickerson & Bobbie Sackman

"As we age, we build momentum that is powering the economy, communities, and politics. Older people across the five boroughs are supporting local businesses, caring for their grandchildren, and participating in local politics. And yet we still find that many people aging into their later years cannot access this energy due to poverty, disability, and the lack of access to vital community services..."

Read More

Additional Coverage

The Aging Apple: Older Immigrants a Rising Share of New York's Seniors

May 2017 | by Christian González-Rivera
Published by Center for an Urban Future

"The growth in New York’s older immigrant population is far outpacing that of the U.S. born senior population. There are now more people over the age of 65 in the city than there are children ages 10 and younger."   Read More

Selling Seniors Short: New York City's Dangerous Underfunding of the Department for the Aging

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 | by Lou-Ellen Barkan
Published by NY Daily News

"An eye-opening new report from New York City Controller Scott Stringer shows that the number of senior citizens who are already "rent-burdened, relying on government services, and living below 150% of the poverty line" is growing exponentially and will likely reach 1.4 million in less than 30 years..."  Read More

New York City Council Wants More Money for DFTA

Friday, May 12, 2017 | by Dan Rosenblum
Published by NY NonProfit Media

"It may not be the “Year of the Senior” after all. Although it didn’t include the sharp funding increase that senior advocates had been asking for, the de Blasio administration defended its proposed budget for the city Department for the Aging during a May 8 City Council budget hearing..."  Read More

Hearing Showcases Frustrations Over Stagnant Aging Department Budget

April 2017 | by Ben Brachfield
Published by Gotham Gazette

"The City Council Committee on Aging held a hearing on Monday to examine the allotment for the Department of the Aging (DFTA) in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recently-released executive budget plan. Council members and DFTA representatives for the de Blasio administration discussed the situation that seniors may be facing given reduced funding numbers..."  Read More

LiveOn NY Releases Statement on Mayor de Blasio's FY2018 Executive Budget

Click here for a printable version of this statement.

Click here to download this statement translated into Spanish.

Click here to download this statement translated into Chinese.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2017                

CONTACT: Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy

bsackman@liveon-ny.org or 917-690-2805

 

MAYOR REFUSES TO ADD ANY NEW MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING!

NO SENIORS, NO BUDGET!

A wave of concern and confusion was sent through the community-based aging services and older New Yorker community across the city as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive budget adds no new money to the Department for the Aging. This is on top of no new money in the preliminary budget. The network of senior centers, services for homebound elderly and other programs has continued to be left out of the Mayor’s budgets.

Bobbie Sackman, Associate Executive Director of Public Policy, LiveOn NY, “On behalf of the 300,000 older New Yorkers served by LiveOn NY’s members, we find it deeply disturbing that Mayor Bill de Blasio, once again, has refused to add any new money to fund vital services through the Department for the Aging (DFTA). 

In both his preliminary and executive budgets, the Mayor has rejected adding any new funding to DFTA. With almost 18% of the city’s population reaching age 60+, it is irresponsible that DFTA receives less than ½ of 1% of the city budget – and less than 2% of all human services funding. As we head into the headwaters of a Trump budget, the safety net for older adults and their family caregivers, currently very thin, must be strengthened. The 2000 homebound seniors waiting for a case manager to visit them, the 780 seniors waiting for home care, the senior centers needing funds for meals, health and wellness programs and renovations – the list goes on and on. Given the anxieties about federal level funding cuts, ignoring the needs of older New Yorkers is inexcusable. If seniors cannot depend upon their Mayor to support the services they need, then where can they turn.

City Council has declared 2017 the Year of the Senior. LiveOn NY calls on City Council and the Mayor to fund the $60.6 million budget priorities included in City Council's response to the preliminary budget. As a supporter of women’s rights and immigrants, the Mayor must support New Yorkers across the lifespan. DFTA’s programs serve thousands of low income women and immigrants. LiveOn NY calls on both the Mayor and City Council to not adopt the FY18 budget without full funding of DFTA services.

###

LiveOn NY’s membership is comprised of 100 nonprofits providing an array of community-based services to 300,000 older New Yorkers. Our mission is to make New York a better place to age, allowing older adults to age with independence, grace and vitality.

Click here for a printable version of this statement.

Click here to download this statement translated into Spanish.

Click here to download this statement translated into Chinese.

Action Alert: 17,500 LETTERS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR = 65 SENIOR CENTERS SAVED - LET'S DO IT AGAIN!

17,500 LETTERS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR =

65 SENIOR CENTERS SAVED

LET'S DO IT AGAIN - CITY BUDGET TIME

When we come together and unite in a common voice, we win!

The Senate and Assembly passed the final budget this weekend which included funding for aging services, as well as a provision adding an unprecedented $125 million in capital funding for senior housing for low income seniors.  LiveOn NY thanks Aging Committee Chairs Senator Sue Serino and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo for their strong leadership during the budget process and for fighting vigilantly for aging services. We also thank Housing Chairs Senator Betty Little and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz for their strong leadership on affordable senior housing funding. 

Key highlights include:

• $17 million in Title XX funds restored for senior centers, saving the 65 NYC Senior Centers that were at risk
• $875,000 in new funding for for Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) - which helps to address the 17,000 seniors on waiting lists statewide
• $945,000 for statewide elder abuse victims’ services (same as last year)
• $500,000 for Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Teams (EMDTs) (same as last year)
• $125 million for developing or rehabilitating affordable housing for low income seniors

The entire budget moves to Governor for final approval, and we are hopeful that he will sign and approve it. We will keep you updated.

CITY BUDGET

Clearly your advocacy works and now it is time to focus our efforts on the city budget. 

This is why we are introducing our:

2017 Year of the Senior: City Letter Writing Campaign!  Click here to get started right away!

Senior services deserve to be a priority in the City Budget - YOU are the safety net that supports Older New Yorkers and it's time your city supports you. Just as we did in fighting for Title XX funding, we will be writing letters to key elected leaders who can influence the amount of funding your program receives in the budget. Letters to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and your respective Council Member will send a clear and united message: 2017 is the Year of the Senior.

Just like before, we've made it easy by providing sample letters and clear instructions. 

Click here for Instructions to print out

Click here for senior letter packet

Thank you - your efforts make THE difference! 

---

• Have questions about the letter writing campaign? Contact Katelyn Hosey at 212-398-6565 x244 or khosey@liveon-ny.org
• Have questions about the budget?  Contact Bobbie Sackman at 212-398-6565 X226 or bsackman@liveon-ny.org or Andrea Cianfrani at 212-398-6565 x233 or acianfrani@liveon-ny.org
• Want to know more? Check out LiveOn NY's webpage which contains information on our full budget ask, as well as other advocacy information: http://www.liveon-ny.org/budget-advocacy
• Want to stay connected? LiveOn NY is active on both Twitter and Facebook, where we will post updates on the letter writing campaign, as well as other aging issues. Be sure to follow and like @LiveOnNY