Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D–Westchester) applauds a provision in this year’s Enacted State Budget which includes a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) for human service workers and organizations across the State. Paulin supported and helped pass the provision to support the sector, which has been grappling with rising costs and wages, which have not been kept up with inflation year after year.

Human Services encompasses social services organizations and occupations such as social workers (child, family, mental health, substance abuse) and counselors (behavioral disorders, mental health, rehab), and are a vital part of our State’s overall health care system. These organizations depend on chronically underfunded City and State contracts to deliver essential services to millions of New Yorkers. The 2.7% TII gives these community-based human service organizations a meaningful increase to help ensure the continuity and quality of care for New York’s underserved populations.

“Our human service providers are the backbone of New York’s social safety net, caring for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “While this 2.7% increase does not solve the funding shortages our providers face, it is a crucial step in the right direction. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the Legislature for their support of the human services sector and the New Yorkers who depend on these essential services every day.”