QUEENS BOROUGH DELEGATION
IMPACT OF THE FY2004 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
ON SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY
MAY 5, 2003

My name is Bobbie Sackman and I am the Director of Public Policy at the Council of Senior Centers & Services (CSCS). CSCS is the central organization representing 265 member agencies providing services to over 300,000 older New Yorkers throughout New York City. Services include: multi-service senior centers, meals-on-wheels and congregate on-site meals, transportation, case management, home care, housing, counseling, adult day services, NORCs, ESL, intergenerational programs, information and referral for benefits and entitlements, and other community-based services. 

To put it succinctly, the age wave is crashing with the budget storm. Attached, you will find charts delineating the waves of cuts proposed for the Department for the Aging (DFTA) in the FY2004 Executive Budget. The waves crashing against seniors are:

• $11.6 million, 9.5%, to DFTA, in the $600 million reduction program.

• $9 million - additional cuts - $8 million reduction in funds for food through consolidated food purchasing; $1 million in savings by transferring the assessment function of homebound seniors from case management agencies contracted out by DFTA to HRA internal staff.

• $13.1 million,13%, cut in the contingency plan for DFTA.

• $13.8 million – elimination of the city’s subsidy to the Transit Authority for the half fare program for elderly and disabled New Yorkers.

It is important to understand who is growing old in NYC in order to understand why we fight so hard for these services:

• Twice as many elderly in NYC live below poverty - almost 20% of NYC elderly live below poverty, compared to 10% nationally. NYC elderly poverty rate increased by 7% since 1990. The average income for a single elderly person is only $10,450 and an elderly couple, $14,125 – low fixed incomes for living in an expensive city.

• Diversity increased – 47% of the 60+ population in NYC is minority elderly, up from 35% in 1990, partially due to high influx of immigrants.

• The elderly are growing older – The 85+ population grew by 20% and is the fastest growing sector of NYC’s population. The 75+ group grew by 5%. The average age of a senior center participant is 77 and those receiving meals-on-wheels and home care are most often 80+.

For further information, see the CSCS report, “Growing old in NYC”, at www.cscs-ny.org

Seniors have already taken their fair share of cuts:

• Over $30 million in cuts to DFTA in 2002 & 2003 – 4 new senior centers; mental health social workers at senior centers; Safe Streets/Elderly Crime Victims program; ESL classes for 2000 seniors and other important services were eliminated.

• No salary increases in 5 years – Staff in senior centers and other senior service organizations have not had a salary increase since April, 1999. A recent study by the Human Services Council of salaries in the human services sector reports that salaries in the aging services network are the lowest – averaging $22,000.

• Waiting lists for services – Seniors often wait many months on waiting lists for meals-on-wheels, case management, home care, and transportation.

$600 million reduction program - $11.6 million cuts: (not listed in any priority order - listed in order they appear in the budget) –

• Cut - $1.6 million – Reduces funding for 9 information and referral programs by 80%.

  • These nine information and referral programs have been helping elderly people receive benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid or resolve problems with Social Security for thirty years. They also help prevent seniors from being evicted from their homes. Many of these seniors do not speak English well which makes it hard for them to deal with government agencies. If these programs are ended, thousands of seniors will lose the help they need to remain in their homes.

• Cut - $1.7 million – Eliminates the weekend meal program for seniors.

  • 7500 seniors take home a meal from their senior center on Friday for the weekend. The funding for this program has already been cut by 70% as the original funding was $6 million. A national study on hunger among the elderly documented hunger among seniors in NYC. Given that seniors need to eat on the weekend and that there are hungry, poor seniors, it does not make sense for DFTA to want to end a meal program. DFTA should be helping senior centers provide this weekend meal rather than trying to end it. Some seniors also need the meal because it is hard for them to cook and shop for themselves and they live alone. City Council has restored this meal program twice so far and we are counting on you to do it again.

• Cut – $7.5 million – Eliminates Borough President discretionary funds.

  • Borough Presidents allocate funds to senior centers, NORCs, adult day service programs and other organizations serving the elderly. The Mayor’s budget labels these “enhanced” services. This is simply not true. Discretionary funds pay for meals, rent at senior centers, van insurance and maintenance that transports seniors to doctors and other core services. DFTA’s funding to agencies is not enough to cover costs so over the years Borough Presidents have given money to ensure that the elderly receive the services they require to remain in their homes and communities. Loss of these funds will mean less meals, less vans on the road and the loss of many direct services for the elderly.

• Cut - $ 390,000 – Closes two senior centers.

  • Two senior centers would be closed under the $600 million reduction program. Last year, DFTA wanted to close 30 senior centers. The contingency plan calls for 15 centers to close (see below). City Council has been a staunch protector of senior centers, ensuring no centers closed.

Contingency plan cuts – (not listed in any priority order – listed as they appear in the budget)

• Cut - $2 million – close 15 senior centers.

  • No senior centers should be closed. It is important that seniors have a local center to go to that is easy to get to, meets their cultural needs, and they feel comfortable in. Losing a senior center can cause isolation, depression, and a decline in health.

• Cut - $5 million – 5000 homebound elderly currently receiving home care would have their home care hours reduced. 

  • 5000 seniors whose income is above the Medicaid level would lose home care hours under a program known as EISEP (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program). Seniors can only receive 4-20 hours a week, so reduction of hours would put them at great risk. While these seniors’ income is above the Medicaid level, they are often near poor – their income is slightly above Medicaid and cannot afford to pay privately for home care. To even put this cut on the list is unconscionable as these are the most frail elderly often in their 80’s and 90’s. Remember that the 85+ group is the fastest growing segment of NYC’s population, growing 20% over the past ten years. Losing home care would cut off a lifeline for them. There are hundreds of seniors on waiting lists for home care, often waiting 6-8 months or more, who would never receive home care if these cuts go through.

• Cut - $3.8 million – Eliminates funding for all 28 NORCs citywide.

  • NORCs (“Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities”) are housing developments that have thousands of seniors living in them. NORC programs bring services to where the seniors live to help them remain in their homes. Services include case management helping seniors coordinate their financial, medical, nutritional and other needs; on-site adult day service programs for people with Alzheimer’s; health and cultural programs; volunteer programs of neighbors watching out for elderly neighbors; transportation and other services. Seniors would lose this lifeline of services that make the difference in allowing them to maintain themselves in their homes.

• Cut - $ 983,000 – Eliminates all intergenerational programs.

  • These programs bring young people, often having educational and personal problems, and elders, who need assistance, together in a variety of ways. Eliminating intergenerational programs would hurt both young and old an cut off a successful connection fostering help and understanding among the generations which is sorely needed in this city.

• Cut - $1.3 million – Increase voluntary donations for meals.

  • Seniors give a voluntary donation for meals. The donation is voluntary by federal law. This proposal would force seniors to increase their donation by twenty cents a meal. If the twenty cents isn’t given, it is a cut to their senior center’s budget as DFTA will take the funds away from the center. This was proposed last year and the funds were restored. However, many senior centers already asked for a twenty cents per meal increase which means the seniors would have to, once again, pay more.

$1.5 million salary increases - Supporting the staff that supports senior citizens –

• Staff in senior centers, case management agencies, adult day services, NORCs and other organizations serving the elderly have not had a salary increase in 5 years – since April, 1999. $1.5 million is the city share of a 3% salary increase (total cost is $3.2 million split between city, state and federal governments).

• It is blatantly unfair that this underpaid workforce has not received a salary increase while other workers in the city do. Everyday they work on the frontlines providing lifeline services to older New Yorkers.

• There is difficulty hiring staff and high staff turnover due to low salaries and no pensions.

Follow the money – two funding streams disappear –

• Cut - $ 2.2 million – Safe Streets/Elderly Crime Victims Program –

  • The Safe Streets program was eliminated in a middle of the night decision as of December 31, 2002, resulting in 70 people losing their jobs and elderly crime victims losing valuable services. Safe Streets was funded by City Council for ten years. Services included replacement of money lost for rent, food and other necessities; free installation of window guards and new locks; counseling for traumatized seniors; and crime prevention workshops for seniors. To his credit, Mayor Bloomberg restored these funds in January, 2003, but DFTA chose not to spend the money. To date, it is unknown what happened to this money.

• Cut – $500,000 - English as a Second Language classes (ESL) for 2000 elderly immigrants –

  • City Council has funded ESL classes for about four years and allocated funds for this program for this year. However, according to DFTA, the $500,000 wasn’t allocated and so the program was ended as of January 31, 2003. City Council maintains that the money is there and has budget documents to back them up. English is important for the elderly because it helps them become citizens, access health care and legal services, and generally function in society. To date, it is unknown what happened to this money.

Elimination of bus and train half fare -

• Cut - $13.8 million – Eliminate transit subsidy for half fare for elderly and disabled individuals.

  • Seniors and disabled people would have to pay full fare, $2, instead of $1, a 65% increase, which will make regular use of the trains and buses significantly more expensive and for some, too expensive to ride every day. They are unlikely to be able to afford a monthly pass which would give them a discounted fare. If half fare is eliminated, funds for vans from senior centers are cut, and Access-A-Ride continues to provide poor service, then the mobility of elderly and disabled people will be greatly limited along with the curtailing of affordable transportation.

Transferring of assessment of homebound elderly from EISEP case management agencies contracting with DFTA to HRA –

• When a homebound elderly whose income is above the Medicaid level applies for assistance, currently EISEP case management agencies go into their homes and do a full assessment for home care, meals-on-wheels, financial management, coordination of medical care and transportation and other vital needs. The Bloomberg budget proposes saving $1 million by transferring the assessment function (the initial intake) over to HRA workers. The current division within HRA that does Medicaid eligibility for home care clients is CASA. CASA is not set up to do case management. They only determine eligibility for Medicaid and the number of home care hours a client can receive. Most EISEP clients are “near poor” or slightly above the Medicaid level. If services are not given in a timely and comprehensive manner, they could slip into Medicaid, could enter a nursing home or be hospitalized – options all costing the city more money in the short term. CSCS is opposed to the transfer of assessing these frail clients who are often in crisis when they apply to HRA.

• $8 million in savings by consolidating food purchase – The Bloomberg budget proposes to save $8 million by consolidating food purchase. While in concept we agree that group purchasing can save funds, we are concerned that DFTA is looking to save money by substantially increasing the number of frozen meals to meals-on-wheels recipients and expanding it to seniors who eat their lunch at senior centers. DFTA has released an RFI (Request for Information) citywide to receive information on how to provide food at a lower cost. The meal infrastructure developed over the past thirty years at senior centers and freestanding meals-on-wheels programs needs to remain intact if seniors on a local level are to receive tasty, nutritional, fresh food that satisfies their cultural needs.

For further information on older New Yorkers and the impact of budget cuts, please go to, “Growing Old in NYC”, www.cscs-ny.org

For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, Director of Public Policy, (212) 398-6565, ext.226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org

TOTAL CUTS TO DFTA ARE ALMOST $30 MILLION OR A 30% CUT

On behalf of the 300,000 seniors receiving services every year through Department for the Aging funded programs, we thank City Council for its historical strong support of senior services. Seniors need you more than ever to protect the services that allow them to age in place with dignity in their homes and communities.

$600 MILLION REDUCTION PROGRAM
$11.6 (9.5%) MILLION CUT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING

$1 BILLION CONTINGENCY PROGRAM
$13.1 MILLION CUT (13%) TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING

Additional funding restorations: $18 million

SENIOR CENTERS CLOSING BASED ON THE $600 MILLION REDUCTION PROGRAM:

SENIOR CENTERS CLOSING BASED ON THE CONTINGENCY PLAN:

For more detailed talking points on the impact of budget cuts on seniors, please go to our website – www.cscs-ny.org

For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, Director of Public Policy, (212) 398-6565, ext. 226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org