LeadingAge NY and Partners Urge Governor to Fund Resident Assistance for Independent Seniors in 2022-23 State Budget

Last week, LeadingAge NY and 16 not-for-profit and for-profit partners submitted a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Executive staff urging the inclusion of $25 million over five years – $5 million per year – to establish an Affordable Independent Senior Housing Resident Assistance Program in the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 Budget.

Resident assistants would connect low-income seniors with existing community programs and resources that can extend their ability to live independently and age safely in place. Targeting this “light-touch” support to affordable independent senior housing communities is a cost-effective model that would maximize the impact of New York State’s capital investments in housing while helping to keep older adults out of more intensive levels of care, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

As the State’s most recent five-year, $2.5 billion capital spending plan for affordable housing purposes concludes, Executive Chamber staff this week confirmed to advocates that a new five-year capital plan remains a top priority for the administration in developing its SFY 2022-23 Budget proposal, due in January.

LeadingAge NY recently joined the New York Housing Conference (NYHC) and a coalition of advocates, experts, not-for-profits, and other organizations to issue a sweeping report of statewide housing need recommending a commitment of at least $6 billion over five years in the new capital plan, including $200 million for senior housing.

We will continue to monitor development of the SFY 2022-23 Executive Budget proposal and advocate for a comprehensive spending plan that meets the needs of New York’s growing population of older adults.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835