Statement from Executive Director Bryan O’Malley on Governor Hochul’s 2022 State of the State Address

Governor Hochul today signaled that she is aware of New York’s ‘worst in the nation’ home care workforce crisis and that she intends to do something about it. While we are thrilled with this acknowledgment, we also know that the devil is in the details and we now eagerly await the Governor’s budget. Aging and disabled New Yorkers have waited for over a decade for action to address the workforce shortages that are preventing access to critically needed services, and every day they are forced to continue to wait, their risk of institutionalization, or worse, rises. We look forward to working with the Executive and the Legislature over the next several months to ensure that Fair Pay for Home Care, and an investment that fully funds a wage of $22.50 per hour for this critical workforce dominated by women of color, are included in this year’s budget.