Protect Head Start
Head Start is a federally funded child care program supporting low-income families with children from birth through kindergarten with free preschool, health screenings, nutritional support, professional development for parents, and much more. Statistics show that this is one of the most successful programs to have come out of the war on poverty in the 1960s, with children who have taken place being more successful in nearly every aspect of life.
Proposed federal funding cuts could wipe out this program that supports nearly 1 million children across the country in urban and rural communities. Doing so would have drastic effects on the children, their families, and communities who rely on them.
Call your representatives today and urge them to do everything they can to protect Head Start!
Access to Representation
Our partners at New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) are working at the state level to ensure that anyone at risk of deportation or navigating immigration proceedings who cannot afford a lawyer will be provided one.
As deportations increase, it’s vital that individuals receive due process under the law. A major part of that due process is expert legal representation. Without this support, New Yorkers are at risk regardless of their citizenship status.
NYIC is calling on New Yorkers to contact their representatives using this form - a quick and easy way to make a real difference in your community.
#JustPay
Human services workers throughout New York City are operating on poverty wages decided by government contracts. Organizations are rallying to fight for our staff and demand #JustPay. Human Services Council has put together a list of steps the Mayor and City Council must take to pay nonprofit workers a living wage.
Fund a 7.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for human service workers in FY 2025-2026
Establish, fund, and enforce an ongoing, automatic annual COLA on all human services contracts.
Establish a Wage Floor for all City and State-contracted human services workers.
Create, fund, and incorporate a comprehensive wage and benefits schedule for government-contracted human services workers comparable to the salaries made by City and State employees in the same field.
Sign up here to learn more about the campaign and stay updated on actions or rallies.
Support Afterschool
Afterschool programs at Grand Street serve thousands of children across New York City. These vital activities provide children and teens a safe place to explore their passions before parents get home from work. STEAM activities, social-emotional learning, and mentorship create outlets for young people to express themselves.
As important as these programs are, they're drastically underfunded. Community based organizations are consistently expected to provide quality programs without the investments needed. Current funds barely cover facility maintenance, staffing, and program supplies with very little wiggle room. Often the funding, in fact, doesn't cover the necessities and organizations are either driven into debt or operate at a deficit.
Our partners at United Neighborhood Houses are calling for $322 million to appropriately address the true cost of New York City's publicly funded COMPASS and SONYC programs.
Call your City Council Member and tell them we need a $322 million investment in afterschool to ensure our children stay safe, engaged, and have the opportunities to meet their full potential.
Universal Child Care
The average cost of Child Care in New York City is $24,000 per year. In comparison, a full year of tuition at City College of New York is around $8,000 per year. When faced with these costs, parents must make difficult choices that may lead to going into debt, leaving a job to stay at home, or leave their children with untrained family members or neighbors.
Universal Child Care is one of the best policies towards curbing child poverty. It allows parents to work, builds a vital foundation of learning for children, and creates opportunity for financial stability for young families.
At the City level, we’re working with the City Council to expand our Universal Pre-K and 3-K programs in neighborhoods of high-need. Bills are also being considered in our State Assembly and Senate that would make programs more affordable and expand access to Universal Child Care.
Stay up to date with the fight for Universal Child Care at the City level by following New Yorkers United for Child Care.
Funding for NORCs
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) support aging residents who are financially unable to move into assisted living or other retirement facilities. These programs provide case management that supports medical visits, financial assistance, and other vital services to help our neighbors grow older with dignity.
Rising costs in healthcare and a lack of public funding has made these programs more important and while simultaneously less able to meet the needs of our older adults.
We’re working in coalition to urge our elected officials in New York City to add $4 Million to the City budget to strengthen these programs that keep our seniors healthy and connected to their community.
Call your City Council member and tell them you support increasing funding for NORCs by $4 Million!
