Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder tours the HeartShare Daycare Center in Lindenwood with Debbie Pafundi, manager of HeartShare Human Service. Photo Courtesy NYS Assembly
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder’s (D-Rockaway) bill to restore more than $90 million in funding cuts for disability programs was signed by Gov. Cuomo this week, relieving numerous organizations that provide supportive care and services throughout Queens.
The restored funding, which comes from the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, is expected to be used for community-based services that provide a wide variety of supportive services for individuals with disabilities and their families.
“The services offered by OPWDD are not luxuries but integral services that families depend on every day of their lives,” Goldfeder said in a prepared statement. “These programs dramatically improve the lives of people with special needs and, while they never should have been cut from the budget, I am happy to see the funds restored.”
Nonprofits working with individuals with developmental disabilities have been hit hard by budget cuts in recent years – and have sustained more than $350 million being carved from their funding over the past few years.
William Guarinello, president and Chief Executive Officer of HeartShare Human Services of New York – a nonprofit that runs sites in such neighborhoods as Lindenwood and Richmond Hill – said he was relieved by the restoration.
“The threat of significant and widespread cuts to essential services for children and adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including autism, ran deep across the community-based service sector, potentially having a devastating impact on voluntary agencies such as HeartShare,” Guarinello said in a prepared statement. “Reduced funding would have prompted program closures, directly affecting thousands of individuals with special needs who rely on the services provided each day by our professional and dedicated staff.”
Goldfeder stressed the importance of providing funding to such organizations as HeartShare.
“Many of these programs provide around-the-clock care and now our children with developmental disabilities no longer have to worry about losing the quality services that they need and rely on,” Goldfeder said.
Following the governor’s signing the legislation, a workgroup will be assigned to evaluate the adopted budget. In case of any funding shortfalls, the state budget director will be authorized to deposit sufficient funds to fully restore OPWDD programs.
