April 28, 2017 (New York, New York) – In his new Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, Mayor de Blasio did not include new funding for the Department for the Aging (DFTA), thereby falling short of the $60.6 million dollar budget priorities outlined by the City Council. Citymeals joins advocates for the aging in calling on the Mayor to provide full funding for basic services such as home-delivered meals, case management and senior centers, and to invest sensibly in a safety net for seniors.

While DFTA’s budget accounts for less than half of one percent of the entire city budget, New York City is now home to more than 1.4 million people over the age of 60 – 20% of the city’s population. And the city’s senior population is expected to grow 40% by 2040. The homebound elderly are New York City’s most vulnerable population. The majority of NYC’s elderly population live alone, have limited mobility, are unable to shop or cook for themselves, and have nobody they can rely on for help. Too many older New Yorkers are struggling to get by, forced to choose between food, medicine and rent. We must not continue to overlook their needs.

At the federal level, there is great uncertainty about funding for social services. The President’s proposed budget cuts could be devastating to older people. Now is the time for New York City to take a stand and invest in programs that are proven effective, like home-delivered meals, which enable seniors to remain in their own homes and communities.

###

About Citymeals on Wheels: Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City’s homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, over 15,000 individuals volunteered nearly 72,000 hours of their time.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals has relied on the generosity of its Board of Directors, the City of New York, sponsors and other designated gifts to cover administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all public donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.