Rikers Island has been a hotbed for humanitarian violations for decades. Every year for the past decade, at least 10 people have died as a result of conditions on Rikers – whether it be abuse or neglect, both a result of years of racist and classist criminalization. New York City’s jails have been under federal […]
Receivership of Rikers: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize Read More »
Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) – also known as safer injecting facilities or safer consumption spaces – are controlled health care settings where people can safely use pre-obtained drugs under clinical supervision. The overdose crisis is a kitchen table issue, and affects all corners of the state. This conversation guide can help answer the most common
Within Mayor Eric Adam’s first year in office, he has failed to aggressively address the crisis of homelessness that the administration inherited. The Mayor has failed to provide the people of New York a concrete path out of homeless shelters, access to comprehensive care for the unsheltered and those in need of wraparound services. The
2023: Roadmap to Ending Homelessness & Winning Permanent Housing in New York City Read More »
After 30 years of rampant displacement, gentrification, and commodification of our state’s communities, the housing and homelessness crisis has never been worse. Rents across our state are at an all-time high, while hundreds of thousands of cases remain pending in housing courts. All this while New York shelters REOPEN because of needed capacity. We simply
2023: Roadmap to Housing in New York State Read More »
People living in New York City deserve to caring & compassionate local government. VOCAL-NY released the following platform of demands for the New York City Council to adopt and make a down payment toward a Caring & Compassionate New Deal for New York City during budget negotiations for the 2023/24.
The disruption to the social fabric caused by COVID-19, exacerbated by a failed government response that left over 1 million people dead and a social service safety net in even worse shape than before, has only intensified the intersecting crises faced by VOCAL-NY members. This social dislocation has also impacted the political environment, turning back
2023-2024 New York State Legislative Platform Read More »
The continued harm from criminalization, incarceration, and the legacy of former Governor Cuomo’s austerity have resulted in a historic number of New Yorkers dying from preventable overdoses, record high homelessness, increased rates of hepatitis C and emerging HIV clusters. This session, our state must continue the momentum from last year and reverse these harms by
2023-2024 New York State Budget Platform Read More »
VOCAL-NY is dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic, drug war, mass incarceration and homelessness across New York State. VOCAL-NY’s four different unions are releasing the following demands for the New York City budget for FY 2022-2023.
2022-2023 VOCAL-NY NYC BUDGET PLATFORM Read More »
On a given night, there are approximately 72,000 New Yorkers sleeping in NYC shelters and 2,300 sleeping on the streets. 2021 was the deadliest year on record for homeless New Yorkers, sheltered and unsheltered. Of the 640 homeless New Yorkers lost their lives on record, 489 of those individuals were residing in shelters. Since taking
Homelessness & Housing Roadmap for Mayor Adams NYC Housing Plan Read More »
Following the release of the Caring & Compassionate New Deal for New York City report, VOCAL-NY released a set of proposals for the New York City Council to adopt and make a down payment toward a Caring & Compassionate New Deal for New York City during budget negotiations for the 2021/22 fiscal year. Read this
Fact Sheet: Down Payment Toward a Caring & Compassionate New Deal for New York City Read More »
