Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Social Services Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi today announced the Assembly's SFY 2016-17 budget will include both the restoration of funding as well as additional funding for social services programs that benefit New Yorkers across the state.

"The Assembly recognizes that many New Yorkers face challenges that make finding employment, affordable housing or even putting food on the table nearly - if not completely impossible," said Speaker Heastie. "We recognize that if we want a brighter, better future for New York, we have to uplift all New Yorkers."

"This budget reflects our continued commitment to providing - not cutting - funding for New York's most vulnerable residents," said Assemblymember Hevesi. "Our proposal builds upon the Governor's generous proposal to increase supportive housing, because if we fail to provide necessary resources to those who desperately need it, we will never truly make any meaningful progress towards ending homelessness."

Under the budget proposal, the Assembly provides $19.5 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding, including restoring funding for the following programs:

• ATTAIN - $4 million
• BRIDGE - $102,000
• Centro of Oneida - $25,000
• Community Solutions to Transportation - $112,000
• Facilitated Enrollment - $8.4 million
• Fatherhood Initiative - $200,000
• Preventative Services - $1.57 million
• Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority - $82,000
• SUNY/CUNY Child Care - $334,000
• Wage Subsidy Program - $950,000
• Wheels for Work - $144,000

The proposed budget reflects the Assembly's continued commitment to providing supportive housing for individuals across New York State. The Assembly's plan expands upon the Governor's proposal by providing an increase of $9.5 million in funding for the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) and the Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP). Additionally, $20 million has been allocated to provide rental assistance and housing support for individuals living with AIDS or HIV. The Assembly has also restored $1 million for the Disability Advocacy Program, which provides legal representation for individuals whose federal disability benefits have been denied or discontinued.

The Assembly's budget also includes measures to address homelessness through increased funding for programs designed to prevent and end homelessness including:

• $50 million for emergency capital for repairs and upgraded security at shelters throughout the state;
• $30 million over two years to support scatter site supportive housing units in upstate;
• $44 million to authorize rental subsidies through the Family Eviction Prevention Supplement to allow a maximum subsidy equivalent to the HUD Fair Market Rent in NYC, and expand such subsidies to assist survivors of domestic violence facing eviction or homelessness; and
• $37.5 million to support the anti-poverty initiative in additional locations including, but not limited to, Rochester, New York City, Watertown, Suffolk and Nassau Counties.

The Assembly proposal also includes a modification to the anti-poverty initiative that allows high needs communities to receive increased funding implementation of programs that alleviate poverty.

Additionally, the Assembly has allocated funding to provide crucial supportive services for people with developmental disabilities. The spending plan includes $100 million, to be spent over five years, to provide affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.