LiveOn NY, Queens Borough President, & Advocacy Groups Call for Bold Investments in NYC's Older Adults

NEW YORK, NY — On Wednesday March 19th, LiveOn NY, an advocacy organization for New York’s 4 million older adults, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., hosted a “Queens Advocacy Day” press conference calling for investment into resources and infrastructure for older adults. The press conference is part of the Age Strong NYC campaign urging Mayor Adams to invest $2.3 billion in nutrition, housing, and community services to support older New Yorkers.

LiveOn NY and the Queens Borough President were joined by 18+ older adult centers and over 150 older adults themselves.

The Age Strong NYC campaign, led by LiveOn NY, includes 60+ community and advocacy organizations and comes on the heels of NYCAging facing a 102 million dollar budget cut that threatens to close up to 90 older adult centers throughout the city. These failures have catastrophic consequences for the 1 in 5 people in New York who are over the age of 65 and their families.  

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“We are here calling for a New York where we can all age in our homes and be part of the communities that we helped to build. As it stands, aging services only get half a percent of the City’s budget for 20% of the population — this cannot stand. We are asking for 2.3 billion dollars to build more affordable housing, to keep people in their homes, to ensure people have the food they need to live without going hungry, and for essential community services like older adult centers,” said Kevin Kiprovski, Director of Public Policy for LiveOn NY.

“We are going to fight every step of the way for you for this budget…This funding helps our seniors continue to live in dignity in the neighborhoods where they’ve long known. We have no intention of resting on our laurels when it comes to supporting each and every one of you — and neither does LiveOn NY. You all deserve to reap everything you’ve sewn in this borough,” said Donovan Richards Jr, Queens Borough President.

“I am from Sunnyside Services, and I am also a senior. I have a vested interest in making sure that we all get the money that we need and deserve. This is not a handout. This is money that should go to all of our programs, said Elizabeth Daniele, Sunnyside Community Services.

“The first thing Kew Gardens did was help me with a situation with my disability—I would not have made it through without the center. We have to make sure that our Council Members and elected officials get fresh hands in the community…we need this money. This is our taxpayer money,” said Jean Silva, Kew Gardens Older Adult Center, Queens Community House.

LiveOn NY Releases Statement on Federal Proposed Budget

Last week, the federal administration released its “skinny budget”—a plan that slashes non-defense discretionary spending by 23% and guts the very programs that older New Yorkers rely on to age safely and with dignity.

This comes on top of leaked documents revealing plans to eliminate Falls Prevention, Adult Protective Services, Health Promotion, Elder Abuse Support, and Respite for Caregivers - critical lifelines for individuals and families nationwide. These programs don’t just save lives,  they save money by reducing hospitalizations, homelessness, and long-term care costs.

This is happening at a time when aging in the United States and New York, in particular, has never been more unaffordable. From skyrocketing housing costs and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses to long-term care gaps and inadequate food assistance, older New Yorkers are already stretched to the breaking point. And without federal partnership, the state and local governments will be left scrambling to patch massive holes in our aging infrastructure.

If enacted, this budget would:

Cut Seniors’ Health Care Through Medicaid, through deep cuts to home and community based care.

Cut Food Assistance Through SNAP, relied upon by thousands of older New Yorkers to make ends meet and afford food.

Reduce Access to Their Social Security Benefits through deep cuts in staffing, leaving older New Yorkers to wait for hours on call lines just to be disconnected.

Slashing the HUD budget and dismantling Section 202 affordable housing for seniors, handing it to state block grants with no guarantees or accountability. 

Eliminate LIHEAP, leaving thousands of older New Yorkers without heating and cooling assistance during extreme weather.

Zero out the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, cutting off critical support for senior centers, NORCs, and housing.

Eliminate Title V Senior Employment, cutting off a vital re-entry path to the workforce for low-income older New Yorkers.

Abolish AmeriCorps Seniors, ending programs that reduce isolation and support community engagement.

Jeopardize Alzheimer’s Research, which will have unprecedented consequences for the millions of families who face and will face this devastating disease.

This isn’t just bad policy—it’s un-American. We are witnessing the dismantling of the very systems that working New Yorkers have paid into and relied on for decades. Older adults across New York State deserve more than abandonment. They deserve respect, investment, and bold leadership that honors their lives—not a budget balanced on their backs.

New York City and State as well as our Congressional representatives must make clear how they will fight back—how they will protect the programs older New Yorkers depend on and stand up to these dangerous federal cuts. Silence is not an option when lives, livelihoods, and dignity are on the line.

We will not stand down. We will speak out, organize, and fight for every older adult and caregiver in this state who is being left behind by this reckless vision for our country’s future.

LiveOn NY, Bronx Borough President, and Advocacy Groups Hold Bronx Advocacy Day

NEW YORK, NY — Today, LiveOn NY joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson to host a “Bronx Advocacy Day” press conference and rally calling for urgent investments for older adults. With the recent plan to defund and dissolve the Administration for Community Living the Presidential administration has put senior centers, Meals on Wheels, and other pivotal programs on the chopping block. At the advocacy day, dozens of local stakeholders, from community groups to service centers, the event was a resounding success, amplifying the call of The Age Strong NYC campaign urging Mayor Adams to invest $2.3 billion in nutrition, housing, and community services to support older New Yorkers.

[PHOTO AND VIDEO]

The Age Strong NYC Campaign, led by LiveOn NY, includes 60+ community and advocacy organizations and comes on the heels of NYCAging facing a $102 million dollar budget cut and the City's failures to meet the needs of its aging population. These failures have catastrophic consequences for the 1 in 5 people in New York who are over the age of 65 and their families. 

Organizations in attendance included SAGE, RSS, PSS, Neighborhood SHOPP, NY Connects Manhattan, The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, Riverdale YM & YWHA, MMCC, JASA, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, James Monroe OAS, CenterLight Healthcare, and WSFSSH.

“I want my parents, my grandparents, my children, my friends, and for you all, everyone who lives in the Bronx, in New York State, to live their best selves as they age. We all deserve that,” said Allison Nickerson, executive director of LiveOn, “And I want to say a few things about the current environment we are in. What is happening 5 hours south of us is not America — people deserve not to drive five hours to the Social Security office, people deserve not to stand in line for hours. We have been paying into these systems, and we need access to Social Security. This is not a political issue, this is a human issue.” 

“It is an honor to stand with our community today at LiveOn NY’s Third Annual Bronx Aging Advocacy Day at Borough Hall—a powerful reminder that our older adults are the heart of our communities. They deserve nothing less than our full commitment, respect, and support,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “Here in The Bronx, we understand that aging is not a crisis—it’s a journey of wisdom, strength, and legacy. But we also recognize the challenges our seniors face, from affordable housing to healthcare access. That’s why I am calling for increased investment in senior services in the City budget, and why I’m proud to have funded LiveOn NY as they continue their critical advocacy and support work. Together, we will continue to fight for a Bronx where aging is embraced, supported, and celebrated.”

“All of us, we worked hard in this city for many years. I worked for forty years in education in the South Bronx, and now we need people to help us. We are political, we are intelligent, we volunteer, and we vote,” said Robert Ackerson, with RSS and Riverdale Y. “And let me tell you, we are one million voters in this city, and we vote in big numbers.”

“These services are vital, and keep our elders stably housed in their community,” said Eustacia Smith from WSFSSH. “We know that without these supports, our folks too often lose access to services and benefits, and can too easily lose access to food, housing, and can easily be displaced. We know the services we provide are essential, and we cannot let this funding be eroded.” 

“I’m speaking out here today against the devastating budget cuts that not only threaten the lives of seniors in our communities, but seniors across this city,” said Eldra Drew of NSHOPP. “ We have long benefitted from the opportunities that senior programming offers, it’s here where we have been introduced to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences, and have learned life skills. These activities are not just ways to pass the time, but it helps us keep our mind sharp, stay engaged, and stay independent. (...) The impact is profound. As our community grows, we need more funding, recognition, and support from the city.” 

“Our mission at RAIN is to always provide, since the day we have been established. We want to enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers, and meet the needs of people of all ages. A senior center is your home away from home,” said Sophia Reid, director of RAIN. We need to fund older adult centers to provide these services. Like our other speakers have reminded us, older adults are the largest population of voters in this city — we need you to stand up for the constituents who voted for you.”