CPC Statement on the NYS FY 26-27 Enacted Budget

Jun

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Date: June 1st, 2026

Press Contacts:

Alice Du, Director of Communications | (212) 792-4585 | adu@cpc-nyc.org

CPC Statement on the NYS FY 26-27 Enacted Budget

New York, NY — The Governor and State Legislature passed a $268.5 billion budget last Wednesday that includes several hard fought investments for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), immigrant, and low-income communities. We acknowledge the significance of these wins and will continue to advocate to ensure the state’s response matches the depth and scale of today’s economic and social challenges.

The budget includes several critical measures that will help stabilize underserved families and strengthen services in the interim. However, many of the state’s most pressing structural challenges remain insufficiently addressed, particularly for immigrants, older adults, working families, and communities of color.

“The scale of the challenges that our communities are facing is evident in everyday interactions that our frontline staff have with community members. More than half of AAPI New Yorkers are rent burdened, and lines are wrapping around our emergency food distribution lines across our community centers. Working families are struggling to afford rent, put food on the table, access child care and elder care, and navigate complex immigration systems,” said Wayne Ho, President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). “Our State has an obligation and an opportunity to make bold and transformative investments in the long-term care New Yorkers deserve. We are pleased to see meaningful wins, including restored funding for AAPI-led and serving organizations, investments towards universal childcare, and cost of living adjustments for many human service workers who keep our communities afloat. However, we remain deeply concerned by failures to address the 450,000 New Yorkers who are on the brink of losing health insurance and the lack of safeguard measures for our immigrant communities. The fight for a more just and equitable New York is far from over, and we look forward to working with community and government partners alike to achieve this.”

Since the State legislative session started in January, CPC staff, community members, youth advocates, and Advocacy Leaders Fellows have traveled to Albany every week to ensure that the issues impacting our communities continue to be top of mind during budget negotiations. In January, more than 200 staff and community members were in Albany to champion critical budget priorities, including an enhancement of the AAPI Equity Budget, universal childcare, passage of the Protect, Invest, and Expand (PIE) Food Security package, $175 million for immigrant legal services, and a 2.7% targeted inflationary increase for all contracted human service workers.

This budget season was lengthy and tough, so we are appreciative of our legislative champions for holding the line for AAPI, immigrant, and low-income communities and helping ensure CPC can continue delivering critical services to 80,000 New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds.

We celebrate the victories secured in the FY26-27 State budget while remaining steadfast in the fight ahead to ensure every New Yorker can live with dignity, opportunity, and the resources they deserve.

Wins:

$30 million restoration of the AAPI Equity Budget that will support AAPI led and serving community-based organizations to provide linguistically and culturally competent services
Several items in the Protect, Invest, and Expand (PIE) Food Security package were substantially funded like NOEP, HPNAP, Nourish NY, and Double Up Food Bucks
Investments on the path towards universal childcare, including expansion of pre-K across New York State, investments in free 2-K for NYC, and pilot programs for 0-3 years old across the State
2.7% targeted inflationary increase (TII) for many contracted human service workers. While this represents an increase from last year's TII, forward, we need to ensure an annual TII proportionate to inflation, and to expand the TII to include the thousands of human service workers that are currently left out
Income eligibility threshold was increased from $50,000 to $75,000 for SCRIE/DRIE
Historic investment in N/NORCs, doubling the state’s investment from $8 million to $16 million
Settlement House Program was restored at $4 million

Shortcomings:

Lack of relief for the 450,000 New Yorkers that will be removed from the Essential Plan on July 1st due to federal budget cuts
New York for All Act was not passed, so informal collaboration between immigration enforcement agencies and local law enforcement can continue
$10 million increase for immigrant legal services through the Office of New Americans, totaling at $74.2 million, far from sufficient to meet this urgent moment
Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) was not expanded to $250 million and made permanent

We look forward to continuing our advocacy alongside community partners and elected officials to build a more just and equitable New York for all.

ABOUT CPC

Founded in 1965, CPC is a social services organization that creates social change. Building on our historic legacy and ongoing dedication to the Chinese American community, CPC advances the social and economic progress of immigrant and low-income communities of New York through services, resources, and advocacy.

關於華策會

華策會成立於1965年，是一個致力於推動社會變革的社會服務機構。秉承深厚的歷史傳承與對華裔美國社區的持續承諾，華策會透過多元服務、資源援助與公共倡議，促進紐約移民及低收入社區的社會與經濟發展。

ACERCA DE CPC

Fundada en 1965, CPC es una organización de servicios sociales que promueve el cambio social. Basándose en su legado histórico y su compromiso continuo con la comunidad chino-estadounidense, CPC impulsa el progreso social y económico de las comunidades inmigrantes y de bajos ingresos de Nueva York a través de servicios, recursos y acciones de incidencia.