With federal budget decisions looming, Queens groups rally for funding

U.S. Rep Carolyn Maloney addresses a coalition of organizations at Wednesday’s rally for increased support of New York’s human services. Photo courtesy of Maloney’s Office.

By Rachel Vick

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney joined a coalition of nonprofits at a Long Island City rally Wednesday to call on Congress to increase federal funding for programs like food stamps and Medicaid.

The Federal Tax and Budget Response Team Coalition, made up of local nonprofits, met at the Queensbridge Community Center to shed light on several key issues.  The coalition includes Fulfilling the Promise of Opportunity, Human Services Council of New York, and United Neighborhood Houses.

The coalition demanded that the U.S. Senate adhere to the budget priorities established by the House and members of Congress to support the fight against the Trump Administration’s proposed rule changes for food stamp eligibility. The organization also advocated for the New York congressional delegation to cosponsor the Working Families Tax Relief and the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Acts.

“From proposals to cut SNAP, Medicaid, and affordable housing to the recent public charge rule, the Trump Administration has launched unprecedented attacks on our nation’s most vulnerable communities and has threatened to take away food assistance from 3.1 million Americans who are struggling to put food on the table,” Maloney said. 

The measures would support $500 million in annual funding to help finance affordable housing, which would help establish and maintain thousands of additional affordable housing options.  

The calls to action comes at a time when federal funding for human services has dropped by about $300 million in less than a decade, while 40 percent of New York City residents cannot afford to maintain a basic standard of living, the advocates said.

Trump’s proposed cuts could lead to the elimination of programs like the Community Services Block Grant, which helps provide funding for projects that work to stabilize communities and their residents. A recent analysis by the FWPA found that federal funding for some of the city’s human service organizations would be cut by 18 percent.

The FPWA coalition has collected about 50 signatures from local organizations, religious groups and policy experts in support of their goals.