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Legislative Priorities 2002 - 2003 State Agenda The New York State Coalition for the Aging Inc. is the only non-profit membership organization representing community-based senior service providers serving hundreds of thousands of seniors in New York State. Our members include senior centers, senior providers from towns and municipalities, county offices for the aging, social adult day care providers, Catholic Charities, Jewish and Protestant service providers, etc. What all of our members have in common is their dedication to providing quality services to older adults and their belief that seniors can, and most oftentimes should, be cared for in their homes and communities with the appropriate support services. NYSCA and its members believe that older adults have the right to live as independently as possible, with dignity, in their homes. Our priorities for State Fiscal Year 2002 - 2003: $1 million - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Funding is needed for meals, route expansion and for equipment and operating expenses. There are waiting lists for home-delivered meals and a large unmet need as reported in a Department of Health and State Office for the Aging joint study - 70% of those in immediate need of home-delivered meals are not receiving them due to inadequate funding. $1 million - Capital Grant Program - Renovation of Senior Centers: RESTORATION NEEDED - The Legislature established a new $750,000 funding stream in the FY 2000-2001 Budget for the renovation needs of senior centers. The Governor eliminated this funding stream in his proposed FY 2001-2002 budget and it was not included in the supplemental budget passed in the Fall of 2001. Our joint statewide survey conducted in partnership with the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City demonstrated that additional funding is necessary to address the critical and pervasive need for renovation of senior centers statewide and for new construction in undeserved communities or for relocation. $2 million - Social Adult Day Care Services (SADC) - RESTORATION NEEDED - The Legislature established a new $1 million funding stream in the FY 2000-2001Budget for SADC. The Governor eliminated this funding stream in his proposed FY 2001-2002 budget and it was not included in the supplemental budget passed in the Fall of 2001. Funding is needed for this community-based service that provides a congregate setting for older adults with physical disabilities and cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease. Adult day services help the elderly person remain in their community and provides critical respite and piece of mind to their caregivers. $4 million - Community Services for the Elderly Program (CSE) - A flexible funding stream to fill locally determined gaps in services. Services include transportation, home-delivered meals, adult day services, case management and other support services. |
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