On February 1, 2018, Mayor de Blasio released his $88.67 billion Preliminary Budget for City Fiscal Year 2019, which begins July 1, 2018.

The Preliminary Budget proposes new investments in Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-in Centers, the creation of affordable housing through the new Basement Apartment Program, new anti-bullying and restorative justice programs in schools, and the expedited implementation of 3-K.

On the other hand, the City’s Preliminary Budget once again proposes to cut summer programs for over 34,000 middle school students; fails to take steps to address salary parity for teachers and staff in community-based early childhood programs; and would eliminate Bridging the Gap, a program that has added MSWs to schools with high rates of homeless children.  Furthermore, the City proposal to add $150 million to the cost of providing shelter to homeless New Yorkers demonstrates the pressing need for the administration to take additional steps to address the well-being of children and families at-risk of homelessness and the over 27,000 children living in NYC shelters.