Without Human Services

Summary

Human service providers in New York State play a critical role in supporting over two million residents daily, offering services from childcare to healthcare for the underprivileged. These nonprofits not only serve as an economic engine, providing over 1 million jobs and stimulating business with over $1 billion in purchases, but they also address significant social issues like poverty and domestic violence. Despite the growing need, funding for these essential services has been on the decline, with over $800 million lost in the last two years and further cuts looming, highlighting the urgent need for investment to maintain these vital community supports.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Over two million New Yorkers rely on human service providers for essential services such as daycare, senior centers, housing, clinics, and language courses.
• 🏢 Nonprofits are not only serving those in need but also acting as an economic engine, providing over 1 million jobs and stimulating business with over $1 billion in purchases.
• 👩‍💼 Human service providers play a crucial role in the career ladder, offering local employment opportunities and often hiring former clients.
• 👶 Childcare and after-school programs are vital for parents, especially young mothers, to stay in or re-enter the workforce, with research showing a 40% increase in employment rates for those who receive assistance.
• 🏡 Programs like childcare, senior centers, and homeless services are particularly important for women, supporting their work and family lives.
• 🚨 There's been a significant increase in domestic violence cases and homicides, yet prevention programs face funding cuts, highlighting the importance of restoring funding for essential human services.
• 🌈 Human services are necessary to promote racial equity and address economic disparities by providing skills and resources to those in poverty.
• 📉 The fiscal crisis has led to a decrease in funding for human services at a time when need is increasing, with record rates of poverty, homelessness, and hunger.
• 💸 Philanthropic dollars are down, and government funding has been reduced, leading to over $800 million in losses at the state level and significant cuts at the local level.
• 📢 There is a call to action for individuals to advocate for investment in human services to support communities and help people move out of poverty.

Q & A

How many New Yorkers are served daily by human service providers?

Over two million New Yorkers are served daily by human service providers.

What types of services are included in the human services sector?

The human services sector includes a wide range of services such as daycare centers, senior centers, housing for the homeless, clinics for the mentally and physically ill, and second language courses for immigrants.

What is the economic impact of nonprofits in New York State?

Nonprofits in New York State provide over 1 million jobs and stimulate business with a purchase of over 1 billion dollars in goods and services to support their programs.

How do human service providers contribute to local employment in struggling communities?

Human service providers are important sources of local employment in struggling communities and often hire former clients, contributing to the career ladder and economic stability in these areas.

What is the significance of childcare and after-school programs for working parents?

Childcare and after-school programs are crucial for working parents as they provide supervision for their children. Research shows that young mothers who receive childcare assistance are 40% more likely to be employed after two years.

How do human services help tackle barriers to gainful employment?

Human services provide job supports and help tackle barriers to gainful employment by offering services like childcare, senior centers, homeless services, and family health programs that are particularly important to women who rely on them to support their work and family lives.

What has been the increase in domestic violence cases across the Northeast since the recession began?

There has been a 72 percent increase in domestic violence cases across the Northeast since the recession began, with a 24 percent increase in domestic violence homicides in just the last two years in New York.

Why is it important to restore funding for essential human services programs?

Restoring funding for essential human services programs is important to help women fight poverty, flee abuse, and build better lives for their families and themselves.

How does the availability of human services impact racial equity and economic disparity?

Human services help promote racial equity and equalize economic disparity by providing people in poverty with the skills and resources they need to survive and escape poverty.

What has been the impact of the fiscal crisis on the availability of human services in New York?

The fiscal crisis has led to a decrease in the availability of human services in New York, with record rates of poverty, homelessness, and hunger, while funding for these services has decreased, leading to significant cuts at both the state and local levels.

How can individuals support the investment in human services?

Individuals can support the investment in human services by adding their voice to the growing chorus of people advocating for investment in these services and keeping commitments to communities.