Mercy Haven Advocates for Mental Health Housing at Legislative Day in Albany

Albany, NY 3/4/2026 - On March 4, representatives from Mercy Haven joined fellow providers from across New York State in Albany for Legislative Day, hosted by the Association for Community Living (ACL). This important day brought together mental health housing organizations, advocates, and community partners to speak with one voice in support of stronger funding for mental health housing programs.

Erin Galante, Chief Operating Officer, and Donna Donaghy, Executive Director, advocate with fellow nonprofits in Albany

During the day, Mercy Haven staff met with state legislators to highlight the critical role that safe, supportive housing plays in the lives of individuals with mental health challenges. The group advocated for increased and flexible funding in the 2026–2027

New York State Budget to ensure providers can continue to meet growing operational costs and sustain essential services.

A key priority discussed was maintaining a proposed 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) in the final state budget, and ensuring that this funding remains flexible. Providers

emphasized that rising costs, including utilities, food, transportation, insurance, and staffing, require adaptable funding solutions to keep programs running effectively.

Legislative Day is part of the broader “Bring It Home” campaign, a statewide effort to secure better funding for community-based mental health housing. Stable housing is a cornerstone of recovery, and continued investment is essential to support individuals in building healthy, independent lives.

Mercy Haven is proud to stand alongside partners across the state to advocate for the resources needed to strengthen mental health housing and support the communities we serve.

Mercy Haven, Inc., founded in 1985, is a non-sectarian 501(c)(3) dedicated to creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Since its start as a mental health housing and support provider for single adults, the agency has expanded to also serve families facing homelessness, the elderly, persons with disabilities, veterans, and victims of domestic violence. Their housing and support services provide stability and support to over 400 people per year, while their Community Food Pantry ensures thousands of households each year have access to fresh and shelf-stable food. Learn more at mercyhaven.org