Volunteers of America-Greater New York

Threats to CoC permanent housing funding are putting the housing stability of hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk. Thank you Congressmen Lawler and @pkryan.bsky.social for standing up for this critical funding.

#supportivehousingsaveslives

Homelessness is rising. NJ towns might get help with housing | NJ Spotlight News Effort to address homelessness at the municipal level being led by Senate President Nicholas Scutari

NJ saw an 8% rise in homelessness in 2025: 13,748 people are unhoused, nearly 2K unsheltered. Permanent housing investments are falling short & federal cuts could make things worse. Senate President Scutari's Municipal Housing Trust Fund is a needed solution.

www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/11/as-h...

NEWS RELEASE 🗞️

Housing Advocates Celebrate $45M Down Payment to AHTF, Call for Full & Sustainable Funding

“Let’s finish the job & ensure the AHTF is fully & sustainably funded so every community can provide the affordable homes our residents need.” -Matthew Hersh
tinyurl.com/AHTFDownPayment

What a way to end the week! We are immensely grateful to the Mayor & NYC Council for including $250K in the budget to support #OperationBackpackNYC - our annual community service campaign that provides students living in NYC homeless shelters with the school supplies they need to succeed.

NYC’s next Mayor will have a lot to tackle when it comes to supporting the human services sector.
Learn how seven of the candidates plan to solve late payments, #JustPay, & other issues facing our orgs & communities in @hsany.bsky.social's Candidate Chats.
📽️ www.humanservicesaction.org/mayoralchat

Operation Backpack® - Volunteers of America-Greater New York Operation Backpack®, a program that provides backpacks and school supplies to every student living in a New York City domestic violence or homeless shelter.

The cost of school supplies is projected to rise this back-to-school season. For the 1 in 8 NYC public school students experiencing homelessness, this doesn’t just limit choices—it can mean going without supplies at all.

You can help through Operation Backpack® >> www.voa-gny.org/operation-ba...

The City relies on nonprofits like @goddardriverside.bsky.social and @voagny.bsky.social to provide life-saving services - but owes the sector millions of dollars for services they already provided. #PayNonprofitsOnTime

NYC agency meant to help vulnerable adults rejected 95% of people referred for aid Officials from the city’s Adult Protective Services program disclosed the rejection rate at a City Council hearing inspired by Gothamist’s reporting.

In the recent @gothamist.com article, @davidfbrand.bsky.social reports that NYC's Adult Protective Services has rejected 95% of people referred for assistance this year. The city needs a better functioning services agency to meet the needs of older New Yorkers. gothamist.com/news/nyc-age...

With preschool special education funding now baselined, we can be more confident that students with special needs at our Bronx Early Learning Center will continue to have access to the critical programs they need to thrive. @afcnewyork.bsky.social

We stand with @lindabrosenthal.bsky.social, Senator Kavanaugh, REBNY, and @winnyc.bsky.social to urge New York State and @governor.ny.gov to fund the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), which will provide immediate relief to thousands of struggling families.

Operation Backpack® - Volunteers of America-Greater New York Operation Backpack®, a program that provides backpacks and school supplies to every student living in a New York City domestic violence or homeless shelter.

Thank you to the @council.nyc.gov, @nycspeakeradams.bsky.social, Majority Leader Farías, and the Chair of Committee of Education, Councilmember Joseph for championing this cause! Learn more about Operation Backpack®: voa-gny.org/operation-ba...

Every child deserves to have the school supplies they need to succeed in school. Last year, the NYC Department of Education cut funding to this key program, but we are hoping with the Council’s support, we’re one step closer to restoring these vital resources for NYC’s most vulnerable students.[2/3]

Last week, the @council.nyc.gov released their response to the Mayor’s preliminary budget—and Operation Backpack®, our signature program providing school supplies to children living in NYC shelters, was included in the council’s funding priorities! [1/3🧵]

Hundreds strong to stand in solidarity to declare that enough is enough! We are here today to say: HANDS OFF HOUSING! #handsoffhousing

@univsettlement.bsky.social @newdestinyhousing.bsky.social @housingworksnyc.bsky.social @hscny.bsky.social @liveonny.bsky.social @unhny.bsky.social

Opinion: The Problem Isn't CityFHEPS "Let’s not forget that the cost of vouchers represents people—people who can’t afford rent despite working full-time, people who without the voucher will become or remain homeless."

CityFHEPS is a lifeline for many of our clients. To truly address the housing crisis, the administration must invest more in both long-term and immediate solutions, including housing access vouchers in the NY State budget. @govkathyhochul.bsky.social

citylimits.org/2025/03/11/o...

Commentary: Residents of older supportive housing units need the state's support Commentary: The Supportive Housing Modernization Act will keep people in their homes and create new jobs.

State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi are calling @govkathyhochul.bsky.social to pass the Supportive Housing Modernization Act, which can save 9000 units of supportive housing, protecting the housing we have already built. @timesunion.com www.timesunion.com/opinion/arti...

We joined @hscny.bsky.social and 300+ human services workers in Albany on Monday for Human Services State Advocacy Day, demanding a 7.8% investment on ALL human services contracts to cover program costs and ensure a living wage. The human services sector can't wait! #FundHumanServices #JustPay

📢 What’s the number?! 7.8!

Cost-of-living keeps climbing, and State contracts must keep up. A 7.8% investment on ALL State human services contracts is what human services nonprofits need to help cover rising program costs and higher wages. #FundHumanServices #JustPay @hscny.bsky.social

Op-Ed | Governor Hochul must pass the Housing Access Voucher Program | amNewYork My name is Rhonda Jackson and I am a proud mother, grandmother, disabled and retired New York City Transit Authority worker, and a life-long New Yorker. This

The Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) is designed to help families stay in their communities, homes, and schools. @govkathyhochul.bsky.social, please include HAVP in this year’s budget so families like Rhonda’s have a place to call home after fleeing violence.

www.amny.com/opinion/gove...

We understand first-hand the complexities involved in implementing a true Housing First program. We are grateful to CM @sandynurse.bsky.social and Deputy Speaker Ayala for their leadership in sponsoring this bill—a critical first step toward removing the barriers that prevent access to housing.

Text on a pink background with an orange rose illustration, urging support for human services workers.

Human services workers show our communities love every day. Now, it’s the State’s turn. ❤️ Join us to advocate for a 7.8% increase to contracts & Cost of Living Adjustments for staff.

📨 Email your State legislators by 2/14: Tell them to #JustPay in the budget! 👉 bit.ly/JustPay-Valentine

Collectively, these changes are critical to ensuring we can continue providing essential services to our neighbors in need in an effective and sustainable way. A huge shoutout to the staff who made the trip and to all the organizations and partners who advocated alongside us! 🧵 [3/3]

We met with key legislators to advocate for:
➡️ A 7.8% increase to human services contracts and Cost of Living Adjustments for staff.
➡️ Rate modernization for NYS Supportive Housing Program contracts.
➡️ Doubling the funding for the Homeless Housing Assistance Program. 🧵 [2/3]

This past Monday, VOA-GNY policy and program staff from our senior supportive housing residences and domestic violence shelters joined @thenetworkny.bsky.social’s Advocacy Day! 🧵[1/3]