Disability Activism & Advocacy

Posted on: Mon, Aug 18 2008 12:10 PM

Posted by: MissLiz Posts: 82

August 15, 2008

Issue:  Call the Governor--Don' t Cut Funding to Independent Living Centers and Home Care!

Background:  Despite the fact that Independent Living Centers and home care are critical services for the disability community in New York State , Governor Paterson has proposed serious cuts to these vital, cost-effective services. 

The Governor has proposed immediately cutting Independent Living Centers by 6% on "remaining disbursements" this year. His proposal then carries over this cut into FY 2009 and beyond. These Centers were already cut by 2% this year so this cut would be on top of the original cut to ILC funding in the enacted FY 2008 state budget. That means the Governor has proposed reducing on-going Center funding by 8%!

The Governor is proposing to cut home care by eliminating the "trend factor" and cutting an additional 1% from reimbursement rates. Because this year's home care rates are based on actual expenses from two years ago, the trend factor is critical to adjusting these rates for the increased cost of doing business, including attendant wages and benefits. These cuts will significantly affect the ability of home care agencies to pay for wage increases and handle the ever-increasing cost of providing benefits, including health insurance, potentially forcing good attendants to look for other work.

Action: 

1.  CALL the Governor TODAY!! Tell him that you want the cuts to Independent Living Centers and Home Care stopped.

The number is:  518-474-8390

2.  If you haven't already sent a fax, please do that as well.  Here's the link: http://capwiz. com/rochestercdr /issues/alert/ ?alertid= 11797711&type=ML&show_alert=1

Although we are only calling the Gov, the capwiz fax contacts your legislators as well.  It's important that they ALL hear from us.

3.  SPREAD THE WORD and ask other people to call and fax!  If we want to preserve funding for home care and Independent Living Centers we REALLY need to turn up the pressure.  We need to get as many calls and faxes in as we can.

Please report your efforts by emailing Mgodino@bcid. org

If you have any questions about this work alert, please contact Mike Godino at 718-998-3000 or mgodino@bcid. org

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Posted on: Tue, Aug 19 2008 12:30 PM

Posted by: Walter Schmidt, VSO CPA CTM Posts: 229

 Isn't this part of an overall budget reduction the Governor has required of all NYS state-level departments?

Posted on: Tue, Aug 19 2008 8:24 PM

Posted by: bonniethesurvivor Posts: 1,138

When I was on the Board of a CILO of a major city, we provided SSD and SSI filing support, housing search and support, food support, cash grants when necessary and available, a day program for some, services for blind and deaf clients, counseling for new disabled folks, groups for anyone who wanted counseling, and on and on.  This is too important to ignore, in my opinion. bonnie

Posted on: Wed, Aug 20 2008 8:23 AM

Posted by: Walter Schmidt, VSO CPA CTM Posts: 229

bonniethesurvivor:

Even if this [is] part of an overall budget reduction, the CILOs should be exempted, given the necessary services they provide for so many in our community.

While I do not disagree, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that ALL proponates to particular areas of the NYS state budget are 'saying' the same thing about their partiular area of the budget when it comes to the Govenor's 6% across the board cuts.

On the veterans' side, they cut certain funding for homeless, blinded, merchant marines, K-9 units, gold star, jut to mention a few areas.

Posted on: Wed, Aug 20 2008 2:15 PM

Posted by: MissLiz Posts: 82

Yes.  So whatever part of the budget you feel should not be messed with you should voice your concern.  Something about the squeeky wheel......