Hochul announces $17.2 million for local social services statewide

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — On Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the release of $17.2 million across New York to support social services departments. The funding goes toward hiring new staff and paying for updated resources that poor families can use.

The money aims to give financial stability to hundreds of thousands of low-income and otherwise vulnerable New Yorkers struggling with mental health, substance abuse, disabilities, domestic violence, and homelessness. Hochul first announced the Family-Centered Services Initiative during her 2024 State of the State address.

The $17.2 million awarded today includes investments in local social services departments in regions throughout the state:

“We’re strengthening the critical resources that help struggling New Yorkers meet their essential needs and transition to economic security,” the governor said in the announcement. “By giving local social services departments the funding to hire more staff and bolster operations, we can bring more families out of poverty and into a brighter future.”

The money lets local agencies hire up to seven full-time staff, depending on each county's caseload. Local departments can also customize their strategies regionally.

"The Family-Centered Services initiative represents an innovative approach to addressing family poverty that underscores the importance of ongoing collaboration between the state and local governments that benefits all New Yorkers," said Paul Brady, Executive Director of the New York Public Welfare Association.