For Immediate Release
Contact: Leanne Ricchiuti, Overit for Association for Community Living, 518.222.8073
February 16, 2023
STATEMENT
Association For Community Living Executive Director’s Testimony at Joint Senate & Assembly Budget Hearing on Mental Hygiene
(Albany, N.Y.) – The Association for Community Living (ACL) Executive Director, Sebrina Barrett, delivered the following testimony at Thursday’s Joint Senate & Assembly Budget Hearing on Mental Hygiene. ACL is very pleased with the proposed budget and the funding it provides for mental health housing, however there is more work to be done.
“Thank you for this opportunity to testify.
ACL members provide community-based mental health housing for more than 40,000 New Yorkers with severe mental illness, helping them work toward recovery and independence.
Housing providers are persevering through many ongoing challenges — such as crippling inflation, sustained workforce shortages and serving aging residents who are experiencing significant medical concerns—even though their resources to do so are shrinking. This is our reality. We face a $96 million shortfall, the amount needed just to level-set us to where we were years ago.
Governor Hochul inherited a mental health housing system that boasts an exceptional mission powered by exceptional staff, BUT for many years, the system has received inadequate resources. Today, we are optimistic because we have a partner in our Governor, who understands the importance of our work and the challenges we face.
We support her plan to develop 3500 new housing units. We also support OMH’s management of the development funds.
But equally important: Governor Hochul has followed through on her promise to include $39 Million for rate increases for existing homes. This is crucial because even while we are developing NEW beds, we can’t risk losing the homes currently in operation.
And this risk is real — we face an average 25% staff vacancy rate due to an inability to pay a living wage. We face enormous rising costs for operating expenses such as utilities, food, and insurance. And the people who depend on us require a higher level of care because they are experiencing more complex concerns due to multiple co-occurring mental and physical conditions. The $39 million will help close the $96 million gap.
But we also risk making the gap bigger, unless we address inflation. Let’s talk about the COLA. While we are grateful for the 2.5% in the proposed budget, it isn’t enough. We have bills to pay. We held a rally yesterday, and our service providers told us that everything has gone up: Groceries, up 34%. Health insurance, up 11%. Transportation, up 34%. Building maintenance, up 35%. Utilities, up 15%.
Math isn’t my strong suit — but even I know that 2.5% won’t cover the bills, let alone leave enough to raise wages, and help us recruit and retain staff.
Thus, we ask that you build on the Governor’s funding plan, which includes the $39 million for our rate increase so that we can absorb rising operation costs and pay our employees a living wage. In addition, we need an 8.5% COLA.
Finally, more than 40% of our residents are age 55 and over; they are experiencing significant medical conditions. Our housing models and staffing levels can’t serve these residents; the only place for them to go are expensive hospitals, because nursing homes won’t admit residents with a severe mental illness.
Last year, the Legislature passed a bill to create a commission to study aging in place; however, it was vetoed because it was acted on outside the budget. This year, please include a task force on aging in place in the budget. The number of residents with medical challenges is growing, and we can no longer delay the action needed to ensure they can age in their homes for as long as possible.
Thank you.”
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