From the New York Association on Independent Living ...
We are asking you to help us secure inclusion in the final state budget of additional funding for Independent Living Centers and the Access to Home program. We have limited time to make our voices heard as final budget details are negotiated.
We are still strongly advocating that ILCs be included in the human services cost of living adjustment (COLA) being negotiated by the Governor and Legislature. The work of ILCs is aligned with that of other human service and disability providers receiving a COLA. ILCs compete in the same labor market, and have the same difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff.
We are also close to securing an increase to Access to Home in the state budget. The program is currently only funded at $1 million statewide, serving only 80 households per year.
We need you to call the Governor and leaders in the Legislature to include ILCs in the human services COLA and an increase for Access to Home.
Take action and make these 3 calls
• Governor Hochul at 518-474-8390
• Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at 518-455-2585
• Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie at 518-455-3791
Sample script:
"Hello, my name is (Your Name). I'm calling to ask that your office support two important disability priorities in the state budget. First, the inclusion of Independent Living Centers in the human services Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). My local ILC is an important part of the community and they need more funding. Second, we need to do something about accessible housing for people with disabilities and older adults. Increasing funding for Access to Home would really help, if you could pass along the message that Access to Home funding is desperately needed in the budget. Thank you.
If you are interested in disability advocacy issues like this one, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at:
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.