New York – Today, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, New Destiny Housing, and Enterprise Community Partners issued the following statement on behalf of the Family Homelessness Coalition:

“While the adopted budget agreement takes steps to invest in the human service workforce, the budget agreement does not go far enough to invest in the future of New York’s families and children or the workforce so essential to child, family, and community wellbeing.

As citywide agencies and contract service providers continue to be underfunded and understaffed and the shelter population has surpassed 100,000 for the first time, families, many of them domestic violence survivors, face extended wait times accessing cash and food aid helping to meet basic needs and housing supports that would help them avoid shelter altogether or exit shelter more quickly. These delays in access to essential supports have devastating consequences for families and children who depend on citywide resources. Furthermore, Mayor Adams’ failure to adequately allocate sufficient funds to cover housing subsidy renewals, rental assistance, existing voucher holders, and CityFHEPS expansion will only serve to exacerbate the unmet social and economic needs of New York’s families, further impeding economic recovery for families, communities, and the city at large.”

###