Alt Text: Alert in bold white letters on a red background
Inaccessible housing is one of the biggest barriers for people seeking to live in the community. Unfortunately, our existing home modification program, Access To Home, has been severely underfunded at a mere $1 million for the past several years. This has left many parts of the state unserved and has resulted in years long waiting lists. In 2018, only 34% of counties received funding for Access To Home, leaving most of the State unserved.
Further, if Access To Home was available statewide to eligible households who need home modifications, it would enhance the effectiveness of other programs like the Olmstead Housing Subsidy and Open Doors, which are designed to help people leave institutions or prevent unwanted and unnecessary institutionalization.
The Senate and Assembly both included a $1 million increase in their budget proposals. This would double funding for the program. This funding could make a big difference for people looking to remain in their homes and stay out of nursing homes!
With only a few days left in budget negotiations, we must make our voices heard on this critical issue today!
What You Can Do:
Make four phone calls today!
Call Housing Chair, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz at 518-455-5214
Call Senate Housing Chair Senator Brian Kavanagh at 518-455-2625
Call Speaker Heastie at 518-455-3791
Call Senator Stewart-Cousins at 518-455-2585
Say: “Hello, my name is ___ and I am calling to urge you to include the additional $1 million proposed in the one house budgets for Access To Home in the final budget. I am disabled and I desperately need help making my home more accessible. There is no available funding to get this assistance, and without it, I can’t leave my house/leave a nursing facility. Please help me stay in my home by ensuring Access to Home receives the additional $1 million in funding in the final budget”
For ILC staff:
“Hello, my name is ___ and I am calling to urge you to include the $1 million in additional funding as proposed in the one house budgets in the final budget. The organization I work for helps people with disabilities leave nursing facilities and avoid institutionalization. However, many of our consumers need accessible housing, but there is no funding to help them get home modifications. Access To Home isn’t available here / has a very long waiting list. If Access To Home was funded appropriately in the one house budget, it would make a huge difference in the lives of many seniors and people with disabilities in our community.“
Background:
Access to Home is an important program administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) that provides funding for home modifications to allow people with disabilities and older New Yorkers to stay in their homes and out of costly institutions. For many people, the addition of a ramp to their front door makes the difference between being able to leave the house and being homebound. The Independent Living community advocated vigorously for the State to create Access to Home to help alleviate the housing crisis for people with disabilities in New York by assisting low and middle-income individuals and families to make home modifications. Yet, Access to Home was cut by 75% several years ago under the Cuomo administration. Ever since, Access to Home has been funded at a mere $1 million statewide, leaving many parts of the state without the program and resulting in years long waiting lists.
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If you are interested this or other disability advocacy issues, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at:
colleen@ncci-online.com
518-563-9058 Ext. 110
The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.