At Unity House, we are encouraged by the inclusion of a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) in the 2026–27 New York State Budget for behavioral health and community-based services.
“I am grateful to our legislative partners who have heard us and demonstrated their support and continued advocacy,” CEO Darlene Podolak said. “They know who we are and the excellent support our staff provide to our neighbors and community members. This targeted inflationary increase helps our organization to meet increased costs and support better wages.”
This investment recognizes the essential role these services play in supporting people with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and disabilities to live with independence, dignity, and community connection. The increase helps address rising costs affecting providers, including workforce retention, supportive housing, transportation, and other essential services people rely on every day.
This 2.7% increase is progress, but sustained investment is essential, as it falls short of the 4% we and many providers advocated for. While this is a meaningful step forward, Unity House recognizes that continued investment is needed.
We remain committed to advocating for a system that is accessible, person-centered, and fully supportive of people with disabilities and behavioral health needs across New York State. We stand with our partners across the state in support of sustainable funding that strengthens essential services for the people and families we support.
This content is sourced from
Cayuga County Unity House
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
