This Week's Resources
If you have resources to share with our network, please contact Tobi Mojeed-Balogun our Associate Director of Programs Support.
2024 Bulk Buy Application
We are thrilled to announce that we will begin accepting proposals for our 2024 Bulk Buy Program! Bulk Buy allows us to aggregate food purchasing across the Diocese and means free high-quality food for EC programs. This is a rolling application and the first round of granting has been extended to April 22nd. You can find our brief application form HERE! Please contact me (Tobi) with any questions or concerns.
Hochul declares victory with $237B New York spending plan (Politico)
"ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $237 billion budget agreement with state lawmakers on Monday with a message: The doubters were wrong.
The governor waded this year into politically nettlesome issues like housing, public safety and support for the thousands of migrants who have arrived in the state over the last two years.
In the end, Hochul largely got what she wanted from the state Legislature despite calls for greater support for low-income renters and skepticism from her fellow Democrats over increasing penalties for people who steal from retail stores and assault workers." Read more here.
Albany to send $35.9B to NY schools as negotiations over mayoral control continue, Hochul says (Chalkbeat)
"Gov. Kathy Hochul said a preliminary budget agreement would allocate roughly $35.9 billion to New York schools — a record high — as state lawmakers closed in on a deal on Monday.
Though Hochul announced “the parameters of a conceptual agreement” on a $237 billion state budget, she said that Albany leaders had not yet finalized negotiations over mayoral control. Hochul told reporters she was pushing to extend New York City’s 20-year-old governance model — a move that would keep Mayor Eric Adams at the helm of the nation’s largest school system.
“There’s still time to see if we can get this worked out,” she said. “There’s a lot of complications with that.”" Read more here.
Albany nears a housing deal that tenant and landlord groups both hate (Gothamist)
"Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic lawmakers are nearing a deal on a broad legislative package meant to boost housing production and provide renters with some new safeguards against eviction, which would clear one of the major remaining hurdles to reaching a final state budget agreement.
But the framework presented to lawmakers on Friday is encountering sharp criticism from advocates for stronger statewide tenant protections and landlord groups demanding changes to New York City’s current rent stabilization rules.
The housing agreement described by state lawmakers and people close to negotiations is expected to revive a tax break for New York City housing developers that expired two years ago while enacting a form of “Good Cause” eviction measures, which will allow tenants to challenge rent increases that exceed a certain percentage." Read more here.
Are Asylum Seekers Illegal? Migrants in the U.S., Explained (Documented)
"Many politicians have demonized asylum seekers in the past year, calling them “illegal” and “poisoning the blood” of the United States. But are asylum seekers illegal? Do migrants lead to an increase in crime rates? This article will clarify the myths and misinformation surrounding asylum seekers." Read more here.
Why child care is so expensive in NYC that it's become a crisis (Gothamist)
"The New York City Council is urging the Adams administration to reverse $1 billion in planned budget cuts, including $170 million in funding for early childhood education that lawmakers say is crucial for young families.
Lawmakers warn that any rollbacks to the city’s 3-K and pre-K program, which provides free education for 3- and 4-year-olds, will worsen the city’s child care crisis and drive more middle-class New Yorkers to leave as housing and food prices also skyrocket.
Child care is already unaffordable for 80% of New York City families, according to child care experts." Read more here.
At least half of NYC’s mental health clubhouses lose funding as city bets on bigger ones (Gothamist)
"At least eight of the 16 mental health clubhouses across New York City are losing funding and at risk of closure when their city contracts expire at the end of June, even as the city looks to expand access to clubhouses overall.
The potential closures come after the city Health Department announced new requirements for clubhouses in September, mandating that all existing providers reapply. The new rules excluded small locations and those that serve “special demographic groups,” such as LGBT individuals or older adults. City officials are in the process of finalizing a slate of new clubhouse contracts that they hope will serve more people, in fewer but larger locations.
Health Department officials said they’re making contract awards to a mix of current and new providers, expecting to fund a total of 13 clubhouses citywide, down from the current 16. But it’s not yet clear how quickly the new centers will open, and many New Yorkers with mental illnesses who participate in clubhouses said they don’t want to lose their existing communities." Read more here.
A civics roadmap for teens: New online clearinghouse created ‘by youth, for youth’ aims to help (Chalkbeat)
"Looking to run a voter registration drive at your school? Want to learn how to earn a high school diploma with a “seal of civic readiness,” demonstrating civic skills and knowledge? Trying to find out more about the NYC Mayor’s Office internship program?
Or maybe you want to get a head start on registering for the upcoming election, whether you’re 18 or not. (Those who are 16-17 can now pre-register so they are automatically registered when they turn 18.)
This information and more can be found on the “Youth Civic Hub,” an online portal launched on Friday, designed “by youth, for youth,” to increase youth civic engagement and electoral participation." Read more here.
NYC charity Robin Hood awards $1M each to 3 groups supporting impoverished children (Gothamist)
"Three local organizations will each receive up to $1 million to help New York City children living in poverty, according to an announcement by the Robin Hood Foundation.
Chances for Children, Family Cook Productions and Forestdale were awarded the funding from the philanthropic giant on Tuesday. The awards were based on the groups’ ability to use community partnerships and innovate in an area where need has almost doubled following the end of pandemic-era aid programs.
“Childhood poverty – even if it’s not your direct issue – is very much a city wide issue,” said Kelly Escobar, Robin Hood’s managing director of early childhood. “We are talking about the next generation of people going into the workforce, into the schools. We are thinking about how to ensure all of New York City is thriving – and we can’t necessarily just privilege folks who are not in poverty, and close our eyes to those.”" Read more here.
Meet the people who are feeding your hungry neighbors in Rockland and Westchester (lohud.)
"Diane Serratore and Karen Erren can quote numbers for days, sobering numbers to show to lawmakers, foundations, individuals and corporations that, yes, there is hunger in Rockland and Westchester counties.
Erren, the CEO of Feeding Westchester, can cite “client visits,” meaning the number of meals provided to people in need. In Westchester, it's 222,000 per month, after cresting at 354,000 during the pandemic.
Serratore, the CEO of Rockland’s People to People, can talk about the bite that inflation has taken, that it costs $122.67 to buy the same groceries that cost $100 four years ago." Read more here.
"Seize the Day" : A benefit concert for the Washington Heights Choir School
Here's a note from our friends at WHCS:
Dear Friends,
The Washington Heights Choir School (WHCS) is thrilled to invite you to join us on Friday, May 3rd for a joyful evening of music and fellowship celebrating over 12 years of providing our free after-school choir program to the neighborhood.The evening will feature performances by our WHCS choristers, special collaborations with the Washington Heights Community Choir and the Dance Project of Washington Heights, and an exciting guest appearance by flamenco artist Paloma de Vega, followed by a festive reception.
We hope you’ll consider supporting this program by purchasing tickets, becoming a WHCS sponsor, placing a journal ad, or perhaps making a donation of goods or services to our raffle. We are grateful for your support and hope to see you there!
Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program
Thank you to Susan Fowler for this tip:
"More than 9 million children in the United States are food insecure, according to the USDA. Stop & Shop works directly with schools to establish and support food pantries to ensure that kids don't have to go to school hungry—and to help them perform their best. Stop & Shop Food Pantries nourish students ranging from pre-K through college.
How it works
Stop & Shop identifies schools in need within its communities and works to support a schools' existing food pantry program—or to help them establish one.
Submit an application for school pantry needs here
If you need assistance, please contact SSSchoolFoodPantry@StopandShop.com"
NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu, RSV, and Norovirus)
A lot of the news around mandates, vaccines and restrictions have been a little confusing so I will list some resources below that might help.
Interview with NYC Health Commissioner on COVID bump. Link here.
NYS Department of Health COVID website - It's a one stop shop with an info summary at the top. Link here.
COVID vs Flu vs RSV info - I found a good article from the Washington post that gives information about three viruses that have been spiking this winter. Read the article here.
The Time Magazine article on the new variant (XBB.1.5) - Link Here
US News and World Report article on newest variant (BA.2.86) - Link Here
COVID is back in NY. What to know about schools, nursing homes and more (lohud.) - link here
How to Keep Tabs on COVID Through Wastewater Testing in NYC (The City) - link here
Scams pretending to be immigration agencies: How to protect yourself (Documented)
"Fraudulent emails and messages have circulated social media, masquerading as communications from federal immigration agencies, that falsely promise migrants legal representation for obtaining a Green Card in exchange for a small fee. Scammers specifically target Spanish-speaking, migrant New Yorkers who are in the process of adjusting their immigration status.
Rosa Santana, the Bond Director at Envision Fund, contacted Documented regarding scam messages circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp. The emails also falsely claim that failure to respond to the correspondence could result in a “negative report in the migration system,” making individuals “prone to deportation.”
Scam messages that target migrants are nothing new, as Documented reported in the past during the Excluded Workers Fund. However, these new scams exploit the necessity of migrants as they seek asylum in the United States. Here are some of the common scams targeting migrants with immigration cases and how to avoid them." Read the rest of the guide here.
Safe Church Training
Safe Church is handled by the Diocesan Human Resources Department which can be reached at safechurchinfo@dioceseny.org. You can also call 917 414 0156.
For more information on Safe Church, visit https://dioceseny.org/administration/congregations/recruiting-and-employment/sexual-misconduct-awareness-2/safe-church/
Documented's Mental Health Resources for Immigrants in New York
"A list of organizations that provide free or low-cost mental health care services to immigrants in New York
It can be overwhelming to find mental health care services, so Documented compiled a list of organizations and groups that offer low cost options, accept Medicaid, or render free services to individuals who are seeking counseling.
Most of these locations provide services in English and Spanish. We recommend reaching out to the location for more information, as some of the prices for services given are based on the level of income. For emergencies always call 911.
You can also contact NYC Well for free, confidential crisis counseling, mental health, and substance misuse support, information, and referral. You can reach the toll-free helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, text and online chat. Mental health professionals there can link you to the services you need. Phone: 888-692-9355 | (Espanol): 888-692-9355"
Documented's Immigrant Resources and Job/Housing Discrimination Guides
"Documented has gathered all of the resources we can find to help immigrant New Yorkers. New links will be added and the following pages will be constantly updated. If you would like us to add information to this list or have questions, please reach out to us at info@documentedny.com."
"The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, religion/creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military service, marital status and partnership status. As a newsroom that serves immigrant communities, Documented has written a comprehensive guide for immigrants."
Hudson Link Employer Toolkit
Our friends at Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison put together an employer toolkit for hiring formerly incarcerated people. Thank you to Sean Pica, Eldredge Blalock, Elisabeth Santiago, and the rest of the team at Hudson Link for this important resource. The toolkit can be found here. If you have any questions about hiring formerly incarcerated people, please contact Elisabeth Santiago from Hudson Link's Alumni Services at esantiago@hudsonlink.org.
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That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!