No Funding to Continue Nonprofit Housing Counseling and Legal Services in Executive Budget
Statement from the Communities First coalition in response to Governor Cuomo’s executive budget address:
“For New York homeowners, there was one devastating omission in Governor Cuomo’s executive budget: funding to continue essential, free nonprofit housing counseling and legal services to New Yorkers at risk of losing their homes. Over the last decade, a network of 89 housing counseling and legal services nonprofits has been helping families in every county across New York State fight mortgage fraud, scams, foreclosure and other complex housing challenges –critical legal help that allows New Yorkers to keep their homes and stay in the communities they love. That funding runs out on March 31. We are calling on Governor Cuomo to dedicate $20 million in the executive budget so nonprofits can continue to deliver high-quality, free services to New York families from Buffalo to Long Island and everywhere in between. With the rising threats to homeownership that could lead to countless New Yorkers being displaced and financially ruined, we implore Governor Cuomo to stand up for New York homeowners and save hundreds of nonprofit jobs statewide by including funding in the 21-day amendments.”
— Meghan Faux, Legal Services NYC; Kirsten Keefe, Empire Justice Center; Christie Peale,
Center for New York City Neighborhoods