CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org

NEW ANNUAL REPORT: VOCAL-NY HIGHLIGHTS 2023 DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN FIGHT TO END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, THE WAR ON DRUGS, MASS INCARCERATION, AND HOMELESSNESS

NEW YORK — VOCAL-NY announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report showcasing the tireless work of members, leaders, staff, and partners in building power and a world with justice, compassion, and love. The annual report comes a month ahead of VOCAL-NY’s 25-year anniversary, which will be celebrated at VOCAL-NY’s Gala for Healthy and Just Communities.

*DOWNLOAD THE ANNUAL REPORT HERE*

“The need for care and compassion has never been more pressing, and the work we accomplished last year is a testament to the heart of our members, leaders, staff, and partners,” said Alyssa Aguilera, VOCAL-NY Co-Executive Director. “We continue to build out our harm reduction services, issue-based organizing, and the VOCAL model across the country. In honor of all whom we lost, we’re fighting harder than ever to win more for our people.”

Some highlights from VOCAL-NY’s work in 2023:

Organizing & Campaigns

• 544 new members
• 65 direct actions
• Held a 24-hour Vigil to commemorate the lives lost on Rikers Island, and demand its closure
• Supported 4 crucial improvements to the CityFHEPS Program in New York City
• Helped pass the Homeless Sweeps Reporting Bill and the Public Bathrooms Reporting Bill in New York City
• Pushed the Rest of State AIDS Housing campaign and it was listed as a priority in both the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly’s One-House Budgets
• Helped double the allocated amount of Opioid Settlement Funds to harm reduction services throughout New York State
• In Rochester, supported and helped pass the expanded Code Blue Package to save lives

Services

• VOCAL-NY officially opened its harm reduction-centered Drop-in Center in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn to support low-income community members who use drugs and/or are experiencing homelessness
• 342,128 sterile syringes distributed
• 5,484 fentanyl test strips distributed
• 633 Narcan kits distributed
• 342 new syringe exchange participants
• 278 street sessions to provide services in the community

VOCAL-NY is building a statewide grassroots movement of low-income New Yorkers who are directly impacted by HIV/AIDS, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness in order to create healthy and just communities. Over the past 25 years, it has saved and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. To find our more, please visit vocal-ny.org.

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