“This year’s state budget makes strides towards tackling our city’s housing and affordability crisis and delivers on the state’s $1 billion commitment towards the Council’s City for All plan. This historic funding is essential to financing affordable housing development and preservation, and supporting Mitchell-Lamas, NYCHA, and HDFC cooperatives that need maintenance and repairs. We also appreciate the state’s first investment into the Housing Voucher Access Program, which will support New Yorkers experiencing housing instability to find a home to call their own. The budget also includes long-awaited changes to the Foundation Aid Formula which will provide New York City increased resources to better serve its unique population of students including English Language Learners and those facing poverty.

“The partial funding commitment from the state towards maintaining access to childcare vouchers is a necessary step, and the Council will focus on city budget funding to ensure childcare access is preserved for our city’s working families. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and the New York City members of the state legislature for advancing major city priorities in the state budget.”

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