Press Release
CSS Statement on Governor Hochul’s FY 2026–27 Executive Budget
The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) thanks Governor Hochul for her FY 2026–27 Executive Budget and for making critical investments that strengthen consumer protections for New Yorkers.
We are especially grateful for the increase in funding for the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) to $6 million. This expanded investment recognizes student debt as a critical higher education issue and will allow EDCAP to expand its reach and impact across the postsecondary system. With these resources, the program can help more students and borrowers navigate the complex student loan landscape, avoid predatory practices, and secure meaningful relief—supporting college access and long‑term economic stability.
CSS also applauds the governor for sustaining $5.5 million in funding for Community Health Advocates and $3 million for the Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP). At a time when more than 1.7 million New Yorkers are at risk of losing their health coverage because of federal cuts through H.R.1, this funding ensures that consumers can receive trusted, one-on-one assistance to understand their rights, navigate transitions, and maintain access to affordable, quality health coverage and care.
We are thankful for Governor Hochul’s commitment to extend state-only Medicaid coverage to lawfully present immigrants currently enrolled in the Essential Plan who will lose eligibility because of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by reverting to the program’s original Basic Health Program. This action reflects New York’s longstanding leadership in protecting access to health coverage for immigrant New Yorkers and mitigating the harm of federal policy changes. However, we remain concerned that the budget does not address the plight of roughly 450,000 citizens and lawfully present New Yorkers who face mid-summer disruptions in coverage, being forced to either go uninsured or pay hundreds of dollars monthly for health plans with high deductibles on the NY State of Health Marketplace. Without a clear plan or dedicated funding to cover this population, hundreds of thousands of families will face a healthcare affordability crisis that will jeopardize their health, financial stability, and overall economic security.
While we commend the governor’s ongoing commitment to housing stability through continued support for the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), more must be done to meet the scale of New York’s housing crisis. We join with homeless New Yorkers, at-risk renters, shelter-providers, and building owners in calling for an increase in rental assistance funding. In the face of callous federal cuts, particularly to housing for the formerly homeless, New York must increase its allocation for HAVP to $250 million and make the program permanent so that it can be used to finance the production of urgently needed affordable housing using project-based vouchers.
Finally, we also commend the governor for enabling timely repairs of rent stabilized buildings with the reauthorization of the J51 program. This version of the generous tax break has been retooled to support building upkeep, without causing tenant displacement.
CSS looks forward to working with the Governor and the State Legislature to build on these investments and ensure the final budget advances economic security, health access, and housing stability for all New Yorkers.