Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC) is calling on the Governor and the New York State Legislature to restore critical Independent Living funding and make meaningful investments in community-based services as part of the 2027 State Budget. These investments are essential to ensure New Yorkers with disabilities can live independently, remain in their communities, and access the supports they need to thrive.
Independent Living Centers (ILCs) statewide provide no-cost, consumer-controlled services to thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities each year. Yet the Executive Budget fails to restore last year’s $750,000 legislative add-on and once again excludes ILCs from the 1.7% targeted inflationary increase (COLA) provided to other human services organizations. ILNC also urges the State to increase base funding for the key network of Independent Living Centers to $25 million, reflecting the reality that ILCs have been systemically underfunded for more than a decade.
“For decades, Independent Living Centers have saved the State millions by helping people avoid institutionalization and unnecessary Medicaid expenditures,” said April Fearby, Director of Independent Living of Niagara County. “We’re asking the State to invest in what works: community-based services that keep people independent, employed, and at home.”
Key Budget Priorities for 2026:
- Restore and Increase Independent Living Funding
ILCs are funded at $16 million in the Executive Budget—far below what is needed to sustain services statewide. Advocates urge legislators to:
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- Restore the $750,000 legislative add-on eliminated in the Executive Budget
- Increase base funding for ILCs to $25 million
- Pass A.2590/S.1580, which would extend the COLA to ILCs
- Invest in Community-Based Medicaid Services
While the Executive Budget proposes hundreds of millions in new funding for hospitals and nursing homes, it offers no new investments in Medicaid-funded community-based services that align with the State’s Master Plan on Aging or forthcoming Olmstead Plan. New York must demonstrate its commitment to Olmstead by investing in access to home care, including restoring access to the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver, repealing MRT II home care eligibility cuts implemented in September, and increasing funding for the Open Doors program, which helps people transition from nursing facilities to community living. ILCs also continue to oppose the Medicaid Global Cap, which restricts needed investment in community supports. - Reverse Cuts to the Access to Home Program
The Governor proposes cutting Access to Home—a program that funds home modifications for people with disabilities—from $5 million to $1 million. For more than a decade, advocates have called for $10 million in base funding to ensure access to home modifications statewide.“Access to Home is one of the few programs that prevents institutionalization by making homes safe and accessible,” said Fearby. “Cutting this program makes no fiscal or moral sense.” - Ensure Accessibility in Autonomous Vehicle Expansion
The Executive Budget proposes continued autonomous vehicle testing and a pilot for commercial autonomous passenger service outside New York City. ILCs are calling for mandatory accessibility requirements so disabled riders are not left behind as transportation technology evolves.