News: Project Renewal Supports Human Services Council Campaign to Protect Funding

Willie McCartha, center, with State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, left, and Patrick Paglen, Case Manager at 3rd Street on right.

Project Renewal joined HSC’s statewide advocacy campaign “Who Cares? I Do.” to spread awareness of the impact that funding cuts have on New Yorkers. Clients and staff travelled to Albany in March to meet legislators and share with them the importance of protecting funding for programs that provide healthcare and housing for Project Renewal clients. Specific concerns include: the implementation of Medicaid Reforms that threaten to reduce funds for human services and make access to services challenging for many vulnerable populations including homeless New Yorkers, and the suspension of the $15 million NYC shelter supplement that ended the Advantage rental subsidy for many shelter residents.

Client Willie McCartha has been directly affected by the loss of the Advantage rental subsidy. The program helped him move from our Third Street Shelter to a one-bedroom apartment in Washington Heights last year. Willie expressed his fears to NY1 News, “I don’t know which way to turn or which way to go… How can you cancel a program that help so many people? It’s sad.”

Willie travelled to Albany to share his concerns with legislators. “It was amazing to talk to people regarding the problem at hand. Each meeting was a little different and we covered all the bases. We spoke to the Social Services council, the Ways and Means Committee, and a representative of Senator Patrick Gallivan.  I spoke of my concern not just for myself but for the disabled, elderly, and children who would be forced into the shelter system.”

Watch the NY1 story with Willie McCartha.

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March 2012