For over 25 years VOCAL-NY has fought to end homelessness. Policy experts, lawyers, service providers, and New Yorkers with direct experience with homelessness have called upon city and state governments to make critical investments, and enact proven public policy. While we have seen some positive steps forward over the years, overall there is a lack […]
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 GOV. HOCHUL’S STATE OF THE STATE: MARGINALIZED NEW YORKERS ARE NOT HER FAMILY OR HER FIGHT See VOCAL-NY’s 2026 Legislative Platform Here VOCAL-NY Leaders Watched the Address From Brooklyn and Rochester NEW YORK — Today, in response to Governor Hochul 2026 State of the State Address, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS MAYOR MAMDANI’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO EXPAND PUBLIC RESTROOMS ACROSS NYC Expansion Marks Win for the #FreeToPee Campaign Started by Picture the Homeless Restricting Access to Public Restrooms is a Quality-Of-Life Issue Often Used to Criminalize Individuals Experiencing Homelessness NEW YORK — Today, in response to Mayor Mamdani’s announcement to commit
VOCAL-NY Applauds Mayor Mamdani’s Announcement to Expand Public Restrooms Across NYC Read More »
This legislative session opens under the shadow of severe federal cuts to housing, healthcare, and food assistance — decisions that will deepen inequality and worsen homelessness, overdose deaths, and poverty across New York. Meeting this moment requires more than opposing federal attacks; it demands bold, coordinated action to ensure housing, healthcare, economic security, and dignity
2026 State Legislative Platform Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-us.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI’S COMMITMENT TO END HARMFUL, INEFFECTIVE HOMELESS SWEEPS The Adams Administration Spent $3.5 Million in Taxpayer Dollars on Encampment Sweeps, Resulting in Zero People Being Moved Into Permanent Housing VOCAL-NY Urges Mayor-Elect Mamdani to End Police Response to Additional So-Called Quality of Life Issues NEW YORK — In response to Mayor-elect Mamdani announcing his
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY COMMENDS CITY COUNCIL FOR OVERRIDING ADAMS’ VETO OF CRITICAL LEGISLATION TO HELP KEEP HOMELESS NEW YORKERS HOUSED Int. 1372: Crucially Caps CityFHEPS Required Renter Contribution at Thirty Percent NEW YORK —- Today, City Council again demonstrated true leadership over a Mayor that continues to wage war on homeless New Yorkers by overriding
CONTACT: : Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY PRAISES NEW IBO REPORT OUTLINING NYC PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS, UNMET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND SUBSTANCE USE VOCAL-NY Calls for Removing Barriers to Access and a “Client-Based” Approach to Speed Up Process and Remove Hurdles NEW YORK — Today, the New York City Independent Budget Office released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 14, 2025 CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, jasmine@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO MAYOR ADAMS PLAN TO ADDRESS THE OVERDOSE CRISIS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER NEW YORK, N.Y. — Today, Mayor Adams announced a multi-layered plan with dedicated funding to address substance use disorder. The plan includes multiple evidence-based public health policies to address
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org NEW REPORT: LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS IN NYC SHELTERS IMPEDING WELLBEING, JOB, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES See Coverage in Gothamist on New Report Shelter Residents Past and Present Call on Lawmakers to Advance #WiFi4Homeless Legislation NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL-NY and Take Root Justice released “Wi-Fi For All: The Need for Wi-fi Access in NYC’s Shelter System,” a
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org LONG OVERDUE: NYS LEGISLATURE FUNDS FRACTION OF HAVP OVER FOUR YEARS, VOCAL-NY REITERATES CALLS FOR A FULLY FUNDED VERSION New Funding Will Save Lives, But Not Enough to Help More Than 158,000 Homeless New Yorkers and Many More Rent-Burdened Households At Risk of Homelessness VOCAL-NY Reiterates Calls for Full $250 Million in
