AARP to NYC Council: Stop Mayor’s Proposed Cuts, Increase Funding for Older Adult Services
New study finds booming 36% increase in NYC 65+ population & rising poverty; City budget must address Older Adult Needs
NEW YORK, N.Y. – AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel issued the following statement today ahead of the New York City Council’s release of the proposed FY24 budget:
“Older adults are shortchanged when it comes to City services and support. They deserve better, but instead are faced with proposed budget cuts from the Mayor. We are calling on the City Council to stop the Mayor’s proposed cuts and invest more funding in older adult services.
“The 65+ population in NYC increased by 36% over the last decade, according to a new report from the Center for an Urban Future (CUF). New York city residents ages 65+ accounted for 16.2 percent of the city’s population in 2021, up from 12.3 percent in 2011.
“Underscoring the need for more City investment, the number of older residents living below the poverty level increased by a troublingly 37 percent over the past decade. The CUF data also show that diversity among older adults is up, with a 49 percent increase in the older immigrant population since 2011.
“The need to invest more is made all the more urgent because of federal cuts, including recent cuts to the food stamp program, which are having a devastating effect. Older adults are increasingly struggling to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head, and live safely in their homes and communities.
“Older adults built this city and made it great. They deserve better. City Council Member and Chair of the Older Adult Committee Crystal Hudson has been a strong advocate for our older neighbors and loved ones. We hope the rest of the City Council sees the urgency in funding critical services.”
Contact: Erik Kriss, ekriss@aarp.org
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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.
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