Letter to Governor Kathy Hochul from the NYS Cash Alliance on the fy26 budget

The below letter was sent to Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday, April 7th regarding the FY26 budget.

Dear Governor Hochul, 

We are the New York State Cash Alliance, a coalition of community organizers, artists, cash beneficiaries, legal and social service providers, and advocates - and we’re working to advance one solution that we know works to lower the cost of living in New York State: Cash.

We believe that you can support this effort in the FY26 budget, through key pieces of legislation included in the Senate and Assembly one-house budgets. 

The Working Families Tax Credit (A3474 / S2082), cash assistance increases for families in shelter (A108/S113), Child and Family Wellbeing Fund (A63A / S6431) and Baby Bucks Allowance (A1597 / S2132) bills are critical programs that, if funded in full, can dramatically reduce child poverty and homelessness in New York State. As a mother and grandmother, you understand how harmful poverty can be on child development and well-being. While we were encouraged to see similar measures proposed in your Executive budget, we urge you to be more ambitious in your fight against child poverty and pass the versions of these proposals included in the one-house budgets.

Additionally, the Senate one-house budget includes funding to increase cash assistance grant levels for individuals and families living in shelter to be able to meet their basic needs. Residents in certain shelters currently receive a fraction of the already-low cash assistance grant. This amount–$1.50 per day–has not been raised since 1997. Increasing cash assistance is vital to protect over 400,000 low-income New York families from abject need.

Low-income New Yorkers are capable of and can be trusted to make the best economic decisions for themselves and their families. The overwhelming evidence from guaranteed income demonstrations across the U.S., including New York, show that unconditional cash helps people advance economically, builds strong and resilient families, supports people in providing care to loved ones during times of crisis, and strengthens community ties.,

Cash also yields positive impacts on our economy and wider society, as it has been shown to help people advance economically, find better employment, plan for the future, and has been linked to increases in productivity and local economic activity. A recent study found that cash benefits provide an almost 10-fold return on investment to our society. 

We hope you will consider these compelling solutions to the affordability crisis in New York State. Please reach out to nys.cash.alliance@gmail.com with any further questions.

The New York State Cash Alliance

List of Alliance Members and Allies

Asset Funders Network

Association to Benefit Children

Atypical Psychotherapy and Solutions

BLIS Collective

The Bridge Project

The Bronx Defenders

Center for Employment Opportunities

Center for Family Representation

Citizen Action of NY

Children’s Defense Fund - New York

Community Voices Heard Power

Creatives Rebuild NY

Economic Security Project Action

EdTrust - NY

Families Together in New York State

Forestdale, Inc.

FPWA

Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood

HudsonUP

Legal Aid Society

Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem

New York Immigration Coalition

NYC Family Policy Project

United Way Greater Capital Region

USBIG, Inc.

VOCAL-NY

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