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Read the latest edition of our Justice and Peace Newsletter.
THE FUTURE OF HOMELESSNESS FUNDING IS AT STAKE
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and the Supportive Housing Network of NY (SHNNY) warn that homeless services are at a turning point. Recent actions by the Administration—including the President’s FY2026 Budget Request, new Executive Orders, and HUD’s re-issued CoC Builds funding notice—suggest that HUD may try to change how communities address homelessness. Launching a new funding competition now would cause serious delays, and the new requirements HUD is considering could add unnecessary burdens unrelated to homelessness, putting vital resources at risk.
Please sign on to this letter today!
https://endhomelessness.org/action/act-now-hold-hud-accountable-and-protect-coc-program-funding/
JOIN US IN SPEAKING UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS
As a result of federal cuts in HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, up to 45,000 New Yorkers may lose health care coverage. Since 2015, New York State has operated its Essential Plan, which provided coverage for adults aged 19-64 with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Effective in 2024, the program was expanded to 250% of FPL to reach more New Yorkers, thanks to a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver.
Under the waiver, 450,000 more individuals gained $0 premium coverage. In total, the Essential Plan provides coverage for 1.7 million adults who don’t qualify for Medicaid. All are state residents, lawfully present in the United States and ineligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus or employer coverage.
Unfortunately, changes in premium tax credit eligibility for lawfully present immigrants in HR 1 will change, leading to a $7.5 billion funding cut, and a shift of $2.7 billion in costs shifted to NYS beginning in January. This will force NYS to discontinue the 1332 waiver and return to a Basic Health Program (1331), leading to a loss in coverage for 450,000 New Yorkers currently on the essential plan.
We are asking you to write to your member of Congress to ask them to delay the implementation of the cuts for three years to preserve health care coverage for these individuals. Both Republican and Democratic members support this delay, but they must hear from you to make it a priority.
ACTION NEEDED! Please call our U.S. House Representative, Nick Langworthy – 607-377-3130
PLEASE JOIN US IN SPEAKING UP FOR SNAP AND TEFAP
The Food Bank has informed us that The Trump Administration has eliminated the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funding. These funds allowed the Food Bank to offer a variety of food supplies that Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler uses for meals at Elmira Community Kitchen and for groceries available at our Samaritan Center and Schuyler Outreach food pantries (and other area pantries). We are awaiting clarification of the specific food items impacted, but it could include eggs, cheese, chicken, milk, fruit, and more.
In addition to eliminating TEFAP funding, Congress is also gearing up to substantially cut SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps). In New York State, more than 800,000 children benefit from the food purchased by their families using SNAP dollars; 76% of the households assisted by SNAP include a worker earning a low wage, making them income-eligible; 49% of SNAP households are older adults. SNAP dollars stimulate the local economy (millions of SNAP dollars are spent each month across NYS – these stores hire local workers and pay local taxes). SNAP reduces food insecurity and benefits the local community! At a time when food prices are rising and new tariffs may make it harder for Americans to afford basic needs, any cut to SNAP could be devastating. Local governments and private charities are already stretched thin and cannot afford to pick up the tab for federal program cuts.
ACTION NEEDED! Please call our U.S. House Representative, Nick Langworthy – 607-377-3130
Our message:
Hello, my name is (NAME) and I’m a constituent from (TOWN/CITY).
I’m calling to ask Representative Langworthy to oppose any cuts to SNAP and to support restoration of the TEFAP program so that both can continue to serve the people of this Congressional District. SNAP helps more than 2 million New Yorkers and brings real dollars into our communities, supporting local grocers and businesses who hire local residents and contribute to local taxes. At a time when food prices are rising daily and new tariffs may make it harder for Americans to afford basic needs, any cut to SNAP and the elimination of TEFAP could be devastating.
Hold HUD Accountable to Protect CoC NOFO
The Administration is pushing an ideological agenda that could jeopardize communities’ access to life-saving resources. And despite the past commitments of a two-year funding application (NOFO) for FY2024 and FY2025, it seems that HUD still plans to run a new competition for FY 2025. Not only will a new NOFO at this point result in significant delays, but based on the recent criteria included in the re-issued CoC Builds NOFO, it could also include new onerous conditions that are unrelated to homeless services. These extra conditions could place these critical resources at risk in communities across the country – red, blue, and purple alike.
Such disruption would upend the very backbone of the nation’s homelessness response, destabilizing programs and displacing and putting the people they serve at risk. Program staff, community partnerships, and landlords who rely on tenants’ rent would all be collateral damage.
Urge your Members of Congress to ask Appropriations Committee leadership to adopt straightforward language in the upcoming continuing resolution, directing HUD to award homelessness grants based on the FY2024 grant results. This will ensure these critical funds are disbursed on time and prevent irreparable harm to homelessness response effort across the country.
ACTION NEEDED! Please call our U.S. House Representative, Nick Langworthy – 607-377-3130
Advocacy Needed: Fund Mental Health Housing Programs
As negotiations finally move forward, we are hearing that we must keep up the pressure if we are to get an adequate inflationary increase included in the final budget. We are urging our members to keep sending e-letters to members of the NYS Legislature & Governor Hochul, telling them to adequately fund mental health housing programs in the 2025/2026 State Budget!
The Governor included a 2.1% Inflationary Increase in her 2025-26 Budget Proposal. This amounts to a cut when compared to the amount the CPI (inflation) has increased during her time in office. The good news is that the Senate and Assembly BOTH included a 7.8% inflationary increase in their budget proposals. We need to keep pushing for the final budget agreement to include the full 7.8% Inflationary Increase!
Please take a moment to send Governor Hochul & NYS legislators an e-letter by using this link. Sending an e-letter is easy to do! Just use this link, enter your information, then hit send! A copy of your letter will then be sent directly to the Governor and legislators.
Advocacy Needed: 988 Saves Lives
Three years ago, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched to connect people in emotional distress with trained crisis counselors – 24/7, free, and confidential. Since then, 988 has fielded about 16.5 million calls, texts, and chats from people needing urgent support.
But a crisis resource like 988 is only as strong as the resources we give to it. Congress must continue to invest in 988 to ensure it’s there when people need it most. That means more capacity at local crisis centers, more training for staff, and more availability of follow-up services that can save lives.
Take 2 minutes today to urge your members of Congress to support robust federal funding for 988.
988 Advocacy