Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Keith Wright, Co-Chair of the Joint Conference Subcommittee on Human Services, announced today that a budget agreement has been reached to restore more than $50 million for workforce development and human services programs and boost the public assistance grant increase to ten percent.

"The Assembly majority remains committed to New York's working families," said Silver. "Temporary assistance programs are essential for many families struggling to make ends meet during a turbulent economy. The 2012-13 state budget includes a significant investment of more than $16.7 million in critical safety net funding to protect vital programs and services."

Speaker Silver said the Assembly Majority advocated for more than $50 million in restorations to human services programs to help New York's neediest families. The Assembly also fought for a public assistance grant increase of five percent on July 1, 2012 and an additional five percent increase on October 1, 2012 to achieve full implementation of a 10 percent public assistance grant increase in this fiscal year.

Restorations made to workforce training programs in the state budget ensure that all New Yorkers on the margins have the tools they need to achieve economic security and self-sufficiency. The state budget provides $4.4 million for various Department of Labor workforce initiatives, including funding for Workforce Development Institute. Additionally, the spending plan preserves more than $1 million in funding for vital resources such as the SUNY and CUNY child care centers to ensure more parents of young children can attend college and invest in the future of their families.

"As a result of the economic downturn, the demand for social services has increased dramatically, it is of critical importance that our social services departments have the resources they need to help those who need it most," said Wright. "The 2012-2013 state budget advances two long held Assembly priorities by making restorations to programs that protect New York's most vulnerable citizens and ensure all New Yorkers are trained with the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

The state budget also includes restorations to the following safety net programs:

• Non-Residential Domestic Violence Services ($1.2 million);
• Child Care subsidies ($2 million);
• Child Care Facilitated Enrollment ($1.3 million);
• ACCESS- Welfare to Careers ($800,000);
• Emergency Homeless Needs ($500,000);
• Food Pantry Initiative ($250,000);
• Strengthing Families through Stronger Fathers ($200,000);
• Bridge ($102,000);
• Caretaker Relative/Kinship ($51,000);
• Career Pathways ($750,000);
• Displaced Homemakers ($546,000);
• Advantage Schools ($500,000);
• The Wage Subsidy Program ($950,000);
• Nurse Family Partnership ($2 million);
• ATTAIN Technology Training ($3 million); and
• Settlement Houses ($1 million).