FINANCE

NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE HEARS HOCHUL HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET PROPOSAL; LAWMAKERS PRESS ON CHILDCARE WORKFORCE CRISIS Albany — The New York State Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee held a joint hearing Wednesday on Governor Hochul's 2024-2025 Executive Budget for human services, with state officials touting record investments in childcare and anti-poverty programs while legislators raised concerns about persistent workforce compensation gaps. Acting OCFS Commissioner Suzanne Miles-Gustave highlighted the administration's historic commitment to childcare, noting that funding has increased 114.5 percent in three years—from $832 million in fiscal 2022 to nearly $1.8 billion in the proposed budget. The state has committed $7 billion over four years to childcare, with eligibility expanded to 85 percent of state median income, the federal maximum, and copays capped at 1 percent of family income above poverty level. However, Sen. Jabari Brisport, chair of the Senate Committee on Children and Families, challenged the adequacy of the proposal, noting that childcare slots have increased less than 3 percent from pandemic lows and that childcare workers earn less than 96 percent of occupations in New York State. He pressed Miles-Gustave on why the budget relies on temporary workforce bonuses rather than permanent wage increases. "The underlying crisis has not been addressed," Brisport said, citing the shortage of childcare providers that predates the pandemic. Miles-Gustave defended the administration's approach, noting that the market rate for childcare providers was increased to the 80th percentile from the 69th percentile, above the federal recommendation of 75 percent, and that some providers received over 30 percent increases. She pointed to the Governor's reconvened Childcare Availability Task Force as a vehicle for developing a framework for universal childcare. Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, raised similar concerns about multiple underfunded workforces in human services. He noted that the domestic violence workforce has not received a cost-of-living adjustment since 2008 and questioned how the state would address compensation gaps across foster care, preventive services, and after-school programs. He introduced legislation to catch all parts of the human services workforce not eligible for COLA increases. Acting OTDA Commissioner Barbara Guinn presented the agency's budget proposal, which includes $50 million for anti-poverty initiatives in Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo; $128 million for homeless housing assistance; and $13 million to administer the Summer EBT program, expected to deliver over $200 million in federal benefits to more than 2 million children. The budget also allocates $23.7 million for year-round youth employment programs. Guinn reported that OTDA delivered $18 billion in pandemic emergency assistance and currently serves 600,000 individuals through Public Assistance, 2.8 million through SNAP, and collected $1.6 billion in child support on behalf of 615,000 families. The hearing, held January 31 in Albany, was the sixth in a series of joint fiscal committee hearings on the Governor's budget proposal. Additional testimony from advocates and service providers is scheduled for later in the day. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES 2024-2025 HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET, FOCUSES ON CHILDCARE COSTS AND ASYLUM SEEKER FUNDING Albany — State legislators pressed human services officials Wednesday on persistent gaps in childcare affordability and the pace of asylum seeker shelter reimbursements during a joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 executive budget. Acting Commissioner Suzanne Miles-Gustave of the Office of Children and Family Services acknowledged that New York's childcare subsidy model still fails to compensate providers for the true cost of care, despite increased market-rate survey funding. Sen. Brisport cited an ILR Buffalo study showing the state's rates fall far short of actual childcare costs, and noted that 79 percent of respondents in a poll support public funding for universal childcare. "We are still under a market survey framework," Miles-Gustave said, adding that new market-rate data would be available in October. She defended the administration's approach, noting that federal barriers—including the failure of the Build Back Better bill—have prevented the state from moving toward true cost-of-care models. Brisport pressed the commissioner on why the Governor's budget did not address a decoupling bill the Governor had previously vetoed. The bill, which would decouple childcare assistance from strict work requirements, carries a $140 million price tag. Miles-Gustave said the administration remains open to discussing the issue but did not include it in the current budget proposal. Meanwhile, Acting Commissioner Barbara Guinn reported that only $325 million of the $1 billion allocated last year for asylum seeker shelter costs has been claimed through September 2023. Assemblywoman Davila pressed for clarity on the funding, noting that the 2024-2025 budget proposes $2.4 billion for the same purpose. Guinn said New York City expects to fully draw down the original $1 billion and that additional claims are pending. Sen. Persaud raised concerns about rising benefit denials in New York City despite reduced application backlogs, questioning whether the city was denying cases to artificially clear backlogs. Guinn said the agency would conduct a deeper review of denials and noted that some increases may stem from duplicate applications when cases are not processed quickly. On other fronts, Guinn announced that public assistance caseloads are projected to increase by 19,000 recipients, with the largest growth in the safety-net single population. She also reported that provisions implemented in August now allow the state to replace stolen SNAP and public assistance benefits—a response to widespread benefit skimming that has affected recipients statewide. The hearing also addressed after-school programs, with Sen. Liu noting that the current system serves only 34,000 students and calling for broader expansion. Miles-Gustave said the Governor's budget proposes an additional $17.7 million for the combined Advantage and Empire programs, bringing total funding to $100 million. On foster care, Assemblywoman Darling requested $10 million for the Foster Youth College Success Initiative, citing concerns that aging-out youth face housing and job insecurity. Miles-Gustave said the Governor's budget adds $3 million for prevention and older youth services, and noted the agency received a $2 million federal reallotment for the Chafee program serving older youth. NEW YORK — State human services officials faced sharp questioning Wednesday over anti-poverty funding distribution, after-school program delays, and the Raise the Age juvenile justice policy during a joint legislative budget hearing. Acting Commissioner Guinn of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance defended the administration's $50 million anti-poverty initiative, which allocates $25 million to Rochester, $12.2 million each to Syracuse and Buffalo. But Sen. Brouk of Rochester challenged the adequacy of the funding, noting that to match Buffalo's needs, Rochester would require $34 million annually. "We're looking at $25 million in one year," she said, questioning how one-time funding could address concentrated poverty. Sen. Cleare raised concerns that other high-poverty areas—South Central Brooklyn, South Bronx, and Harlem—were excluded from the initiative, urging a "more global approach to anti-poverty." Commissioner Guinn responded that the three cities were selected based on consistently high child poverty rates and noted the state's Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council would make statewide recommendations by year's end. After-school program implementation drew criticism from multiple legislators. Assemblywoman Chandler-Waterman reported that community-based organizations have not received funds for previous school years while facing new contract cycles, creating staffing and wage crises. Commissioner Miles-Gustave acknowledged delays and said the combined Empire State and Advantage after-school program RFP would be released "in the next several weeks." Assemblywoman Byrnes, a former prosecutor, delivered pointed criticism of Raise the Age, citing increased teen violence and carjackings in her district. She questioned why the budget maintains the same funding as last year with no service changes. Commissioner Miles-Gustave defended the policy, noting New York was "one of the last two states" to raise the age of criminal responsibility and emphasizing the need for youth services rather than adult incarceration. Chair Krueger raised alarm over a New York Times report showing HRA benefit approval rates plummeting to 15 percent on time in New York City, asking whether inadequate administrative funding to local social services districts was the cause. Commissioner Guinn acknowledged the problem and said the state would examine denial rates more closely. On SNAP benefits, Sen. May asked about implementing a $100 minimum benefit supplement, which Commissioner Guinn said would require working through "accounting issues and technical issues" with EBT vendors but expressed willingness to collaborate. The hearing revealed significant implementation challenges across multiple human services programs and highlighted geographic disparities in funding that some legislators view as inadequate to address concentrated poverty and related social problems. NEW YORK STATE BUDGET HEARING EXAMINES HUMAN SERVICES SPENDING AMID $4 BILLION GAP Albany — State budget officials defended Governor Hochul's 2024-2025 Executive Budget proposal for human services on Wednesday, facing pointed questions from legislators about childcare funding implementation, food assistance adequacy, and support for vulnerable populations. Acting Commissioner Miles-Gustave of the Office of Children and Family Services reported that the state has spent $1.9 billion of a promised $7 billion childcare investment over four years, with $280 million in remaining pandemic funds allocated for workforce grants. However, Sen. Brisport pressed the commissioner on why workforce retention grant estimates were significantly overestimated last year, questioning why remaining funds were rolled over rather than distributed to workers. On food assistance, Acting Commissioner Guinn of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance acknowledged that New York's minimum SNAP benefit of $23 per month is insufficient, though he noted the program is indexed annually. Assemblywoman González-Rojas highlighted that New Jersey recently increased its rate to $95 monthly and expressed concern that a $2 million legislative add for the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program was not included in the Executive Budget, potentially affecting outreach in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. The state has disbursed $3.4 billion through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to support 293,000 payments on behalf of low-income tenants, with $180 million remaining to be distributed. Commissioner Guinn also reported that $20 million has been used to replace stolen SNAP benefits under a law passed last year, with individuals eligible for replacement up to twice annually. On aging services, Greg Olsen of the New York State Office for the Aging highlighted the state's status as the first "age-friendly" state and described innovative programs including 27,000 animatronic pets distributed to older adults and 900 AI-powered ElliQ devices deployed statewide. The budget proposes $122 million in historic investments for older adults awaiting services since 2018. Reverend Viviana DeCohen of the Department of Veterans' Services reported that the Veterans Benefits Advising Program secured $68.47 million monthly—over $800 million annually—in recurring VA benefits through 35,000 filed claims in 2023. The state has delivered nearly 1.5 million fresh meals to veterans facing food insecurity and distributed 15,000 pairs of socks through partnerships. Assemblywoman Lunsford raised concerns about the financial impact of Child Victims Act claims on foster care agencies, noting over 800 claims against providers serving 90,000 children statewide, with 40 percent of claims lacking insurance coverage. Commissioner Miles-Gustave acknowledged the unintended consequences and said the state is working with providers on potential solutions. The hearing, held before the Joint Legislative Finance Committee, continues through April 1, when the final budget is due. NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE — Lawmakers sharply questioned state officials on Wednesday over proposed budget cuts to aging and veterans services, with particular focus on the elimination of funding for critical programs serving vulnerable populations. At a joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 executive budget, State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen faced sustained questioning from Sen. Leroy Cleare about a proposed $2.5 million cut to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which currently fails to reach 88 percent of adult care facilities with the state-mandated weekly visits. Cleare noted that an additional $15 million would be needed to meet the program's goals. Olsen acknowledged the cuts but characterized them as part of ongoing budget negotiations, noting that the state faces a $4 billion deficit. He said the office received $178 million in state funding plus $7.3 million in federal funds, and that counties still have nearly $50 million in unobligated pandemic relief funds available through September. The hearing also revealed significant gaps in aging services funding. Cleare highlighted that 16,000 individuals and families are waiting for non-Medicaid home and community-based care, while the Governor's budget eliminates a $9.3 million legislative add to the program. Olsen estimated that $40-50 million would be needed to clear waiting lists if workforce were available. On veterans services, Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Cecilia DeCohen reported significant achievements, including securing $68.47 million in monthly federal benefits for veterans—an increase tied to 8,000 additional claims processed compared to 2022. She announced that three mobile service vans are rolling out and that 39 veteran organizations received grants in the first round of the Veterans Nonprofit Capital Fund Program. However, Sen. Ashby challenged DeCohen on a $2.4 million budget cut to the department, which was elevated to full department status in 2022. Ashby also noted that over $3 million in tax checkoff funds designated for veterans nursing homes and burial services have gone undisbursed over six years. DeCohen said the department would address the issue but did not specify which programs might be cut. Assemblyman Jones emphasized the return on investment in aging services, noting that the average person served costs under $10,000 over five to seven years while saving Medicaid dollars. He questioned why the state doesn't recognize this value, particularly given that over 440,000 of New York's seniors are veterans. The hearing is the first in the budget negotiation process, which typically extends through the end of the fiscal year. NEW YORK STATE BUDGET HEARING HIGHLIGHTS DISPUTE OVER VETERANS FUNDING CUTS A joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget for human services devolved into a heated debate over whether proposed reductions to veterans programs constitute actual cuts, with Republican senators challenging the characterization while agency officials insisted no cuts were being made. The dispute centered on approximately $2.4 million in proposed reductions to the New York State Division of Veterans' Services, along with 18 legislative add-ons totaling $3.4 million that were zeroed out in the Executive Budget. These include funding for programs such as Helmets to Hardhats, the North Country Veterans Association, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. DVS Commissioner DeCOHEN repeatedly testified that these are not cuts but rather "legislative adds" that are not included in the Executive Budget and will be renegotiated during final budget discussions. "There has not been any cuts for our veterans," he stated. "This Governor is very well aware of the dignity and what our veterans have earned and deserve." However, Sen. Stec challenged this characterization, noting that the 2024 enacted budget allocated $1.1 million for homeless veterans housing while the Governor's proposed 2025 budget cuts that to $500,000. "It's a cut," Stec said bluntly. "The 2024 enacted budget is 1.1 million, and the Governor's proposed 2025 budget is 500,000. How's that not a cut?" He also drew a sharp contrast with the proposed $2.4 billion allocation for New York City immigrant services, asking: "How does that jibe for the 700,000 veterans?" Sen. Weik similarly expressed skepticism, stating: "I appreciate your rose-colored glasses approach to this, but it's still a cut. And we still need more money. Our veterans have been neglected and underfunded for a very long time." The Commissioner highlighted several initiatives he said demonstrate the Governor's commitment to veterans, including doubling Dwyer Program funding to $8 million, a 150% increase in county veterans officer funding (from $10,000 to $25,000), and the distribution of 10,000 welcome-home letters to newly identified veterans. He noted that 39 veteran organizations have been awarded capital grants, with an additional $2.6 million to be distributed in increments of $25,000 to $75,000. On aging services, NYSOFA Director Olsen testified about the office's initiatives, including deployment of 900 ElliQ AI companion units—making New York the first state agency in the country to do so. He discussed workforce development programs for older workers, noting that 75% of older adults consider themselves very healthy and active. He also highlighted that 60 of 62 counties now have Elder Mistreatment Delivery Team programs. Sen. Krueger raised concerns about funding equity, noting that while 40% of older New Yorkers live in New York City, the city receives only 35% of SOFA funds. She requested detailed data on county-by-county waitlists for in-home services, case management, and home meals. Assemblyman Manktelow advocated for restoring $150,000 in funding for the Boys State program, which was last appropriated in 2019, and requested support for veterans nursing home legislation. Assemblywoman González-Rojas highlighted that the aging services budget represents less than 8/10ths of 1% of the entire state budget, despite older New Yorkers spending approximately $72 billion annually in the state economy. The hearing, held on January 31, 2024, before the Finance Committee, underscored ongoing tensions between the Legislature and the Executive over budget priorities for vulnerable populations. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — Aging advocates and service providers sharply criticized the 2024-2025 Executive Budget on Wednesday, warning that proposed cuts to senior services and long-term care oversight will leave vulnerable older New Yorkers without adequate support as the state's 65-plus population surges. The joint legislative hearing on human services revealed a significant gap between the state's aging crisis and budget allocations. Between 2010 and 2020, New York's 65-plus population grew over 30 percent, yet the Governor's budget cuts $2.5 million from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program—a move advocates called "a travesty." AARP New York requested $51 million for aging services, including $42 million to eliminate waiting lists for non-Medicaid home and community-based services and $9 million to restore prior cuts. The organization also demanded $15 million for the ombudsman program to achieve weekly visits to every nursing home, as recommended by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Currently, only 12 percent of nursing homes receive weekly visits. Marcella Goheen, founder of Essential Care Visitor, testified emotionally about her husband's eight-year institutionalization with a neurodegenerative disorder. She highlighted that New York's aging population contributes $72 billion annually to state and city taxes, yet faces inadequate support. She cited 4.1 million family caregivers providing five to seven hours daily of uncompensated care valued at $4.1 billion. Ann Marie Cook, CEO of Lifespan of Greater Rochester, said the budget "in no way will meet the needs of older adults who need our help right now." She noted that community-based aging services cost less than $10,000 per person annually—compared to $140,000 in nursing homes—while serving people an average of 6.5 years. Sen. Cordell Cleare pressed state officials on housing affordability for seniors and dental care access, questioning whether state funding was being supplanted by federal dollars. NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen clarified that federal funding represents the least amount received and that the state organized nationally to secure a $1.8 billion federal increase. On veterans services, Assemblymember Burdick raised concerns about the lack of gynecological services at the Montrose veterans facility, while Sen. Scarcella-Spanton advocated for a comprehensive veterans resource registry to better connect service members and families to benefits. Advocates also called for SNAP benefit increases from $23 to $100 minimum, data matching for prescription drug programs, and restoration of funding for the Patients' Rights Helpline. The hearing underscored tensions between budget constraints and growing demand for aging services across New York. NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE — Advocates and service providers testified before a joint Senate-Assembly committee on Wednesday that the state's 2024-2025 executive budget fails to adequately fund critical human services, particularly for childcare workers and aging populations, despite acknowledging the essential nature of these services. The hearing, held by the Finance Committee, revealed stark disparities in compensation and service capacity. Family childcare educators in New York City earn only $10.61 per hour according to a New School study, while human service workers earn 70 percent of what government employees make for identical roles, according to testimony from the Chinese-American Planning Council. Witnesses described a long-term care system under strain. Approximately 18,000 older New Yorkers are waiting for aging services, with an estimated $51 million needed to serve them, according to a Long-term Care Ombudsman. The Long-term Care Ombudsman Program itself reaches only 12 percent of nursing homes statewide, a figure that drew sharp criticism from Assemblyman Hevesi, who called it "a disgrace." Childcare advocates presented a unified message: the executive budget allocates no new funds for childcare workforce compensation, instead only redirecting leftover federal pandemic funds. Steven Morales of All Our Kin called for a permanent $1.2 billion Childcare Workers Fund, warning that without sustained investment, educators will continue leaving the field for retail and food service jobs. Marcella Goheen, a family caregiver whose husband has been in a nursing home for eight years, testified about post-COVID trauma affecting both formal and informal caregivers. She described conditions where nursing home staff refuse to mobilize residents out of bed, citing fairness concerns about not being able to move everyone. Sen. Brisport pressed witnesses on whether pandemic-era stabilization grants were sufficient, with all panelists agreeing they were temporary fixes requiring permanent solutions. Meredith Chimento of the Early Care & Learning Council noted that while the budget includes $1.7 million for Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultants, this funds only cost-of-living adjustments for existing staff, not the requested $4.5 million for 26 additional consultants. Chairwoman Krueger explored whether the Justice Center, which oversees vulnerable populations in institutional settings, should be expanded to oversee nursing homes—a proposal that drew mixed reactions from witnesses but appeared to have the chair's support. The hearing underscored a recurring theme: while legislators and the governor acknowledge the importance of human services, the budget fails to match rhetoric with resources, leaving workers in poverty-level wages and vulnerable populations without adequate support. New York State lawmakers heard urgent testimony Wednesday about critical gaps in childcare workforce compensation, child welfare funding, and early childhood services as they prepare the 2024-2025 budget. The hearing before the joint Finance Committee revealed a sector in crisis despite recent state investments. Researchers from Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab presented data showing that while childcare capacity increased modestly since 2021—with a net gain of 75 licensed providers and 18,731 slots—the gains masked troubling disparities. Family daycare providers lost 381 establishments and nearly 3,000 slots, while growth concentrated in group family daycare. The study found that a $1 billion investment in childcare would generate $1.8 billion in economic activity and 20,300 jobs, but only if the workforce crisis is addressed. Multiple advocates called for a permanent childcare workforce compensation fund, with Cornell researchers proposing that raising all childcare workers below $23.55 per hour to that level—plus 20 percent retention raises for those already at that threshold—would cost approximately $800 million annually. Testifiers emphasized that without addressing worker compensation, increased capacity means nothing if providers cannot staff their programs. Child welfare organizations sounded an alarm about the Child Victims Act, warning that without state intervention, providers could lose liability insurance and be forced to close. Michelle Newman of COFCCA, representing over 100 nonprofit child welfare agencies, noted that insurance coverage cannot be found in 40 percent of cases and that one Long Island provider is already facing bankruptcy. Sen. Murray expressed strong support for Article VII language protecting agencies from private right of action lawsuits, citing potential damages in the $30 million range. Sen. Brisport challenged the state's $140 million cost estimate for the decoupling bill, which would decouple childcare assistance from parents' work hours, suggesting the figure overestimates actual costs. Advocates also highlighted disparities in early childhood investment. The Education Trust-New York reported that while the state spends $23.9 billion on early childhood programs, only $5.26 billion goes to childcare, family support, and prevention. The Bridge Project testified about child poverty rates, noting that in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse, one in two children lives in poverty. Legislators heard support for several bills, including S8374 to remove federal poverty level caps on income disregards, the Hevesi-Persaud bill to increase COLA funding, and the MILC bill to create a cash-transfer program for low-income mothers. The hearing underscored the interconnected nature of workforce, funding, and policy barriers affecting vulnerable New York families. New York State legislators heard urgent testimony on Wednesday about significant funding gaps and wage disparities affecting vulnerable populations across human services, from HIV-positive individuals seeking housing assistance to underpaid childcare workers. The most striking testimony came from Perry Junjulas of the Albany Damien Center, who revealed a fiscal paradox: an analysis by the state's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) shows that providing rental assistance to low-income people with HIV outside New York City would cost just $3 million in the first year while generating $4 million in Medicaid savings—yet the state has failed to implement the policy despite including similar language in budgets for the past five years. "This language allows but does not require local departments of social services to provide meaningful HIV housing assistance," Junjulas testified, calling for a change from permissive "may" language to mandatory "shall" language in state law. The HIV housing crisis extends to aging populations. MJ Okma of SAGE reported that 73 percent of New Yorkers living with HIV are estimated to be over 50 by 2030, with 17 percent of new diagnoses last year occurring in people over 50. SAGE requested $600,000 in combined renewal and new funding to expand services for aging LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and those aging with HIV. A second major theme involved stark wage disparities in supportive housing programs. Stephen Piasecki of the Supportive Housing Network detailed how the legacy New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) funds services at as little as $2,700 per person annually, while the newer Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) provides $25,000—a tenfold difference. Of NYSSHP's 20,000 units statewide, 9,000 have no other funding source, and 7,000 lack rental assistance. Both Piasecki and Gabriela Sandoval Requena of New Destiny Housing, which serves domestic violence survivors, requested $32 million to begin a five-year plan to bring NYSSHP to parity with ESSHI. Childcare workforce compensation emerged as another critical issue. Lauren Melodia, an economist at The New School's Center for New York City Affairs, presented data showing home-based childcare providers earned a median $10.61 per hour in New York City in 2021—below the $15 minimum wage—while center-based workers earned $5 less per hour than high school diploma holders earning $18.50. She requested legislation to develop an alternative cost-estimation methodology for childcare vouchers and expansion of the Workforce Compensation Fund with a permanent $12,500 wage subsidy per worker. She noted the state has $13.3 billion in budget reserves available. Erin Brigid of Equality New York cited UCLA data showing 5.5 percent of the state's population—approximately 853,000 people—identify as LGBTQI+, and requested $100,000 for cultural sensitivity training and a Know Your Rights campaign targeting BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities. Reverend Paul Fleck of Immigration Law & Justice New York raised transparency concerns about the $2.4 billion allocated in the budget for immigrant services, noting that $325 million of a previous $1 billion allocation was spent in New York City. He advocated for the Access to Representation Act, citing evidence that people with legal representation in deportation proceedings are 10 times more likely to win their cases. Assemblyman Hevesi pressed Junjulas on why the state hasn't acted on the OTDA analysis, noting that "one would have hoped it would have been reflected in this year's budget." Chairwoman Krueger requested detailed charts showing the different categories of supportive housing contracts and their payment disparities, expressing frustration that legislators don't fully understand "the actual universe" of programs they're funding. Senator Cleare made an impassioned statement about the undervalued nature of childcare and elder care work, saying "there's value to that that people kind of miss and just disregard." New York State legislators heard urgent pleas for increased funding across multiple human services sectors during a joint Finance Committee hearing on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget, with advocates warning of critical workforce shortages, unmet service demands, and generational cycles of poverty and abuse that remain unbroken. The hearing revealed stark funding gaps across domestic violence services, child advocacy, veteran support, and nutrition assistance programs. Joan Gerhardt of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence testified that federal VOCA funding has plummeted $121.6 million over five years—a 61 percent loss—while DV and sexual assault programs shed 1,200 employees between 2020 and 2021. She noted that on a single day in 2022, nearly 1,000 people seeking DV services were turned away. Gerhardt urged the Legislature to include DV advocates in the Governor's proposed cost-of-living adjustment, which currently excludes them. Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres of Bivona Child Advocacy Center in Rochester painted a dire picture of child abuse in western New York, where her center serves over 60 percent of the region's abuse victims despite receiving less than $270,000 annually from a $4 million operating budget. She cited alarming statistics: one in seven children experiences abuse, child fatalities in Monroe County have more than doubled in three years, and abused children are nine times more likely to engage in criminal activity. Lyman-Torres requested at least $10 million in CAC funding and emphasized the need for prevention-focused interventions. Gavin Walters, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Dwyer Program facilitator, testified that the 62-county veteran reintegration program has prevented suicides among participants but faces severe resource constraints. He described veterans forced to choose between mental health services and gas money to reach clinics, and requested $2.1 million in additional funding to address food insecurity, housing crises, and transportation barriers. Sen. Scarcella-Spanton, chair of Veterans Affairs, committed to submitting a letter supporting the funding request. Krista Hesdorfer of Hunger Solutions New York highlighted that SNAP outreach provides a 27-fold return on state investment but warned that $2 million in additional NOEP funding allocated last year is not sustained in the Executive Budget. Without restoration, services would be reduced in nine counties and eliminated entirely in seven others. She also advocated for universal school meals, noting 320,000 students remain without free meals. Several legislators signaled strong support for the advocates' requests. Sen. Roxanne Persaud pledged to fight for veteran and DV funding, while Assemblyman Hevesi expressed frustration that the state has not increased DV workforce pay since 2008 and questioned why New York/New York supportive housing agreements have lapsed. The hearing underscored a recurring theme: existing programs serving vulnerable populations remain chronically underfunded despite documented success in breaking cycles of poverty, abuse, and homelessness. NEW YORK — Human services providers testified before the State Senate Finance Committee on January 31 that they have been systematically excluded from cost-of-living adjustments for over 15 years, a gap that has contributed to the loss of 1,200 positions in the sector, according to testimony during a joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget. Ms. Gerhardt, representing a human service group, stated that her organization was excluded from COLA adjustments when it was formed in 2008 and "has never received a COLA, period." Assemblyman Hevesi responded sharply to the testimony, calling the situation "outrageous" and "absolutely devastating." Hevesi urged his colleagues to make human services providers a top priority in the upcoming budget, emphasizing that the sector's deterioration threatens service delivery to children and families. He referenced testimony from Ms. Torres about breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty, arguing that budget cuts risk perpetuating hardship across generations. Sen. Krueger, who chaired the hearing, acknowledged the testimony and indicated the committee would continue its budget review, scheduling an education-focused hearing for the following morning at 9:30 a.m. in the same location. The hearing concluded at 5:45 p.m. after testimony from multiple panelists on human services funding.