Advocacy Platform
HSU engages lawmakers and partners across New York to advocate for the needs of our members and their clients. We provide effective, viable solutions based on the expertise of our membership organizations.
Federal Priorities
HSU aims to work with federal leaders and national partners to push back against cuts to programs that are proven to be effective, supportive, and break the cycle of homelessness. We must protect outcome driven and proven models and invest in them to go even further – not change practice now. We encourage:
- Fully fund existing housing programs without making changes to eligibility and length of stay
- Reaffirm evidence-based housing models that break the cycle of homelessness
- Look to veterans’ homelessness as a model for addressing other populations
New York State Priorities
Over 150,000 New Yorkers are without a home, and 175,000 households are at risk of eviction. Between January 2023 and January 2024, homelessness in New York State increased by 53.1% – more than four times the average rate in the rest of the country. Not only has federal aid and eviction protections from the pandemic lapsed, but new risks exist as the federal administration makes cuts to the social safety net. HSU is urging the state to play a leading role in protecting New Yorkers from attacks from the federal government and making sizable investments to end homelessness. This includes
- Paying the human service sector contracts on time and including COLAs to pay staff what they are worth and TIIs to address increased costs for service delivery
- Support New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and prevent additional New Yorkers from entering the shelter system through expansion of effective models like the Housing Access Voucher Program
- Increase investment in job-readiness programs and economic empowerment programming to help clients achieve financial wellness and maintain
New York City Priorities
New York City will be on the frontline of the intersection of several attacks on the social safety net. The City must be innovative, nimble, and ready to protect its residents from entering homelessness, and help nonprofits move those in shelter to permanent housing.
- Pay non-profit providers on time and address the backlog of payments owed to provider
- Invest in shelter contracts to upgrade facilities and bolster programming for clients
- Advance truly, deeply affordable housing and supportive housing projects
- Push for consistent staff training and enforcement of agency policies
- Strengthen ongoing and develop new workforce development programs for clients in shelter
Coalition Work
HSU is a proud member of the #JustPayCampaign and the Human Services Council (HSC). HSU will continue to support the work of city-based coalitions including Enterprise’s Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC) and the Homes Can’t Wait Campaign. HSU is also a member of the National Women’s Shelter Network.
