Sen. Griffo, Assemblyman Brindisi: 2018-19 State Budget provides funding for important human services, invests in programs to fight opioid addiction

State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, and state Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, today said the 2018-19 State Budget includes funding to provide vital human services, including supporting programs to help fight the heroin and opioid crisis, supporting veterans and senior citizens and helping New Yorkers transition to better jobs.

Under the 2018-19 spending plan, the state is providing nearly $250 million in funding to address the heroin and opioid crisis, including an increase of $26 million to support the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to improve educational and awareness campaigns, along with prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and residential service opportunities.

The new budget also establishes the Opioid Stewardship Fund, providing $100 million for treatment, prevention, and recovery services for New York residents addicted to heroin and opioids. Under this new program, manufacturers and distributors of opioids in New York State would have to provide funding for the new program based on their sales in state, and would not allow them to pass on this cost to patients.

The budget includes just under $2 million in community programs under the State Division of Veterans Affairs, including the Veterans Justice Project, which provides outreach to homeless and mentally ill veterans; The New York State Defenders Association’s Veterans Defense Program, which trains attorneys about issues often facing clients who are veterans; and The Helmets-to-Hardhats Program, which provides veterans with construction industry apprenticeships.

The budget continues valuable programs and services for senior citizens, including $31.2 million for the Community Services for the Elderly Program to provide personal care, home delivered meals, transportation, and programs for senior citizens. The budget also includes $20 million in capital funding to support establishing 1,000 new assisted living program beds in underserved areas.

The 2018-19 State Budget also provides support for programs helping residents transition to better jobs.  It provides $2.85 million to the Career Pathways Program; $334,000 for Child Care programs at SUNY; and restores $25,000 in funding for Centro of Oneida to provide transportation services so lower-income residents can get to work.

“Through the 2018-19 State Budget, we have delivered valuable resources and funding that will help senior citizens, veterans and others in need across New York State. We secured record funding this year to combat heroin and opioid abuse, will provide seniors with a variety of important programs and will help veterans find jobs and get the appropriate services they need. These initiatives have the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for the state’s residents,” said Griffo.

“This budget provides more resources to help our most vulnerable residents to receive the programs and services they need to become productive citizens. The state’s strong commitment to helping those addicted to opioids is something many constituents have told me is badly needed at a time when so many families have been affected by this epidemic. I also am pleased to support programs that help people transition from public assistance to the workforce.  Veterans and the elderly will also benefit from the state’s commitment to funding human services programs,” said Brindisi.

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