One in Three Senior Centers in Danger Of Closure Under Governor's Proposed Budget

Area seniors could find themselves out in the cold next fiscal year.

A recently released budget proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., includes a $25 million reduction in state funding for city senior centers, threatening the continued existence of what many consider to be a crucial lifeline for older residents.

According to the Council of Senior Centers and Services, 110 facilities catering to the elderly across the five boroughs are in danger of closure as a result of the potential loss of Title XX funding, which comes from federal monies allocated through the state Office of Family and Children's Services.

If the Governor's budget is adopted with the loss of Title XX funds, advocates for the elderly say the impact on the city's older population could be huge.

"Neighborhood centers prevent senior hunger by providing meals, prevent isolation leading to physical and mental deterioration and are a solution to rising health care costs as they keep older adults healthy and active," said Igal Jellinek, executive director of CSCS. "This cut must be stopped once and for all.”

Even for senior centers managing to remain open, the cut in discretionary funds will likely have a big impact on programs geared toward older adults, like those held at the in Little Neck.

And for many beleaguered facilities catering to the elderly, this most recent threat of cuts is starting to resemble routine.

Across the borough in western Queens, Sunnyside Community Services recently had to cut its Meals on Wheels program due to three straight years of cuts in government funding.

"Any cuts to senior centers are going to be devastating," said Richard McGrade, assistant director of SCS.

Heading to Albany  of area seniors, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, D-Bayside, committed to fighting for the preservation of an essential funding stream for city senior centers.

"When you talk about a $10 million budget deficit, $25 million isn’t that much," said Braunstein, who sits on the Assembly Committee on Aging. "These cuts are too much to bear."