ARRA Update - ARRA Info Session for Members on 3/17/10

In September and November, HSC provided updates and grant information about federal stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). We identified opportunities that existed for not-for-profits to apply to the federal government for grants and forwarded these to our membership. Members can see our list of opportunities that remain open for submission, as well as tips for those interested in applying for these grants on the Members-Only section of our website.

HSC created guidelines for future federal recovery spending and wrote a report summarizing the issues faced by not-for-profits in addressing special ARRA reporting/tracking requirements that are unduly burdensome. We shared these issues and recommendations with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's Office on the federal level and with Michelle Light, Senior Policy Advisor, Mayor's Office of Operations, on the City level.

We held a final ARRA informational session on March 17. Federal, State, and City representatives discussed the status of ARRA-related funding for human services, including reporting, where funds have been spent, and what to expect in the next months.

You can see a copy of the City presentations by Kristin Misner (Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs) and Michelle Light by going to the NYC Stimulus Tracker website, on the News and Information Page.
If you have questions for Senator Gillibrands Office regarding the Senators Grant Workshops, you can email Sam_Cooper@gillibrand.senate.gov or Karina_Cabrera@gillibrand.senate.gov. If you have questions about HSC's ARRA work, please contact Michelle Jackson at (212) 836-1588.

HSC's ARRA work was made possible by a grant from the New York Community Trust, which ended in December.

HSC and members receive press coverage as a Result of Helpers Need Help Survey, October 2009

The Helpers Need Help: New York City's Nonprofit Human Service Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times survey report and forum held on September 9 have sparked media interest about the plight of human services agencies in these difficult times. HSC has been fortunate to work with Pro-Media Communications to find outlets where we can share our sector’s story. You can see a complete list of the press, radio, and TV items that have appeared as a result of interest from the survey (including links to the stories online).

Responses from New York City Mayoral Candidates to Human Services Sector- Specific Questions, October 2009

As we rsquo;ve done in the past, HSC asked the 2009 NYC Mayoral Candidates to respond to a questionnaire on behalf of the human services sector.  We are happy to report that both Michael Bloomberg and William Thompson responded to our questions and their answers have been compiled in their entirety here!  You can also see their responses in this month rsquo;s edition of the New York Nonprofit Press.

 The questions focus on the human services sector rsquo;s relationship with government, funding issues, human service staff development, and the use of technology to access benefits and services.  We are very pleased to be able to present you with these responses and hope they will help inform you of the respective candidates rsquo; positions on these important topics.  Please feel free to forward this document. 

As a tax-exempt not-for-profit, HSC is subject to 501(c)(3) rules which prohibit the endorsement of candidates.

Responses from New York City Comptroller Candidates to Human Services Sector-Specific Questions, September 2009

To understand the human service policies and approaches of the NYC Comptroller candidates, the Human Services Council sent a human service sector-specific questionnaire to the candidates. We received responses from David Yassky and Joe Mendola. David Yassky's responses can be viewed through this linkand are in red; Joe Mendola's responses can be viewed through this link. We hope these answers will inform you of their views and objectives with regard to issues and concerns of the human services sector. Please note that this information is nonpartisan and is not intended to reflect an endorsement for, or opposition to, any candidate or political party.

HSC Sponsors Survey to See How Nonprofits Are Managing in Hard Times - See the Survey Results, Discussed at The Helpers Need Help Forum on Sept. 9, 2009

HSC and the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management at Baruch College presented a forum, called The Helpers Need Help: New York City's Nonprofit Human Service Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times to review the results of the survey. Download a copy of the survey report or read a press release about the survey. Finally, you can read an article from the New York Nonprofit Press about the survey and forum held on September 9.

The survey, which was developed by the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College in partnership with HSC, captures how nonprofit human services organizations in New York City are managing in hard times. It provides details on adjustments these organizations made to programs, staff, salaries, benefits, and other aspects of their operations in response to changes in revenues from public, private, and internal revenue sources in the last year. The survey expands upon the findings of the Winter 2008 Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey, which focused on the economic environment of the past few years and its effects on a range of operating issues. The survey was completed in June 2009 with 244 nonprofit social service leaders responding.

Thanks are required to many HSC members for providing additional support for this survey; members contributed funds, called potential respondents, and worked on the development of the survey. These members include: Asian American Federation, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, Children's Aid Society, Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, COFCCA, F.E.G.S Health and Human Services System, Good Shepherd Services, Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and NJ, Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, Jewish Child Care Association, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Phipps Community Development Corp., Project Renewal, Public Health Solutions, Safe Horizon, UJA Federation, and YMCA of Greater New York.

Mayor Bloomberg Outlines Steps to Support NYC Not-for-Profits, 4/6/09

On April 6, the Mayor held a press conference to outline a number of steps the City is taking to support not-for-profits. This package of policies and resources are designed to strengthen the not-for-profit community, particularly during the current economic downturn. These new initiatives have been at the forefront of our advocacy agenda and we will continue to collaborate with the City on these initiatives to ensure their implementation is successful. See the full press release. You can also see a summary of the initiatives and contact information. As part of the initiative, the Mayors Office launched a new website, nyc.gov/nonprofit, which provides information and assistance to nonprofits, including an online contract tracking system. The system will be updated weekly so nonprofits with City contracts can easily check the status of any contract in the pipeline (click here to track discretionary awards over $25K or click here to track other human service contracts). The Mayors Office of Operations will also report on each agencys overall efficiency in processing contracts, which should improve the speed in which contracts are processed.

Our Advocacy in Albany Paid Off March 30, 2009

HSC is thrilled to announce that our advocacy in Albany has paid off and our State budget includes many restorations for human services.
The State budget:
Restored $28 million to stop the proposed one percent across-the-board cut to not-for-profit human service agencies and will maintain the COLA agreement in future years.
Dismantled the proposed youth services block grant and much of the related cuts.
Restored the homeless service prevention program, SRO funding, and funds for the homeless intervention program.
Restored $29 million in child welfare funding for the Community Optional Preventive (COPS) program.
Restored $6.4 million to Advantage After-School and add another $5 million to the program.
Balanced the budget fairly by raising personal income taxes (for a three year period) on New Yorks top earners. Those earning $300,000 - $500,000 annually will be taxed at a rate of 7.85% and the rate for those earning above $500,000 will be 8.97%. This will create $4 billion in revenue.

After the Governor released his Executive budget in December, HSC diligently advocated in Albany for critical restorations, increases to the personal income tax, and policy reforms to reduce State spending. Click here for more information about some of these major victories.

HSC could not have done this without the support of members who sent letters, made calls, held district meetings, and joined us in Albany to voice concerns. Also, thanks are due to members of the One New York coalition for acting as a loud voice in the fight for a balanced approach.

Fair Share Return Tax Adopted March 2009

Working with the One New York: Fighting for Fairness coalition, HSC successfully advocated for the adoption of the Fair Share Tax Reform Act. State leaders have agreed to temporarily raise the personal income tax on New Yorks top earners to counter spending cuts for a three-year period from tax year 2009 to tax year 2011, generating an expected $ 4 billion. The progressive reform will create the following two new tax brackets from the previous flat rate of 6.85 percent for all joint filers making more than $40,000:
1) 7.85 percent for single or married-filing-separately taxpayers making more than $200,000, head-of-household filers making more than $250,000 and married couples with incomes greater than $300,000. 2) 8.97 percent for all taxpayers making more than $500,000, regardless of filing status.

HSC Hosted an Info Session on 311 And ACCESS NYC March 18, 2009

HSC hosted an info session on 311 and ACCESS NYC for City Council Members and Staff, which Council Member Brewer (Chair of the Technology in Government Committee) attended with HSC Technology & Referral Committee members on March 18. You can read about what was covered