Homelessness

VOCAL-NY Applauds Assembly Social Services Committee Passing WiFi for Homeless Shelters Legislation

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CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS ASSEMBLY SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE PASSING WIFI FORHOMELESS SHELTERS LEGISLATION ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, the Assembly Social Services Committee passed Assemblymember Karines Reyes’ WiFi for Homeless bill (A1755) which requires homeless shelters and other temporary housing across the state to equitably provide Wi-Fi access to residents. In response, VOCAL-NY released the following […]

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NEW: VOCAL-NY Responds to Trump Admin Gutting Homeless Veterans Rights

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NEW: VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO TRUMP ADMIN GUTTING HOMELESS VETERANS RIGHTS New Effort Would Institutionalize Veterans Instead of Providing Housing and Healthcare — In Violation of Disability Rights NEW YORK — In response to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ new initiative seeking to place hundreds of homeless veterans under guardianship, VOCAL-NY released the following statements: “Someone who makes a

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Addressing the Homelessness Crisis: Strategies to House and Defend New Yorkers Statewide

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Addressing the homelessness crisis with tangible resources, rather than cuts, will improve the long-term health, well-being, and stability of our communities. We are calling on the Governor and the legislature to champion solutions that invest in housing and resources for New Yorkers at risk and to defend our people by fighting against the policies that

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Leading Homeless Advocates Slam Mamdani’s Retreat to Anti-Homeless Policies

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CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org LEADING HOMELESS ADVOCATES SLAM MAMDANI’S RETREAT TO ANTI-HOMELESS POLICIES Mamdani Walking Back Commitments on Ending Sweeps and Expanding CityFHEPS is a Mistake NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL-NY, Open Hearts Initiative, National Homelessness Law Center, Housing Works, Coalition for the Homeless, Neighbors Together, Safety Net Activists – Urban Justice Center, Win, and Interfaith

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Protecting Homeless New Yorkers and Ending the Statewide Housing Crisis: An Emergency Response Plan

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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

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Gov. Hochul’s State of the State: Marginalized New Yorkers are Not Her Family or Her Fight

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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

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VOCAL-NY Applauds Mayor Mamdani’s Announcement to Expand Public Restrooms Across NYC

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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

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2026 State Legislative Platform

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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

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VOCAL-NY Applauds Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s Commitment To End Harmful, Ineffective Homeless Sweeps

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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

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VOCAL-NY Commends City Council for Overriding Adams’ Veto of Critical Legislation to Help Keep Homeless New Yorkers Housed

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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

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