LeadingAge NY and Its Members Testify at ACF Hearings
LeadingAge NY and other stakeholders testified at the New York State Assembly Health, Social Services, and Aging Committees' first joint public hearing on Adult Care Facilities (ACFs) in New York City last week. Click here to view our written testimony. The hearings are focused on the inadequacy of the current State Supplement Program (SSP), which is the state portion of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit. The following LeadingAge NY members also provided testimony to help bolster support of ACFs that serve New York’s poorest seniors: Nicole Atanasio, President and CEO, Lott Residence; Paul Freitag, Executive Director, West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing; Sandy Freeland, Administrator, VillageCare at 46 & Ten; and Matthew Lesieur, Director of Public Policy, VillageCare.
LeadingAge NY and several members will also testify at the upstate hearing in Syracuse on Sept. 28th, as an increase in the state supplement of the SSI rate is one of our key advocacy priorities. Any member of the public can provide an in-person testimony and/or a written testimony. We urge any ACF or assisted living member that serves SSI recipients to consider testifying. Those who plan to testify should submit the required reply form as soon as possible. Please also let us know if you plan to testify. We are happy to help you prepare, should you have any questions.
Click here for more details about the hearings and here for more information and advocacy materials regarding SSI.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828