BUMP New York

BUMP New York Human service workers support children, people with disabilities, older adults, and families in crisis.

Bring Up Minimum Pay (BUMP) is an anti-poverty campaign fighting for a simple goal: pay a real living wage to the New Yorkers who care for us in our times of greatest need. Yet poverty wages paid by state contracts make it impossible to afford housing and basic necessities, drive high turnover and staff shortages and disrupt care families rely upon. We're advocating for New York State legislation

to raise the base pay of nonprofit human service workers to $29 per hour—the bar for true economic security in New York State. The change would lift 100,000 New Yorkers out of poverty and drive up to $23 billion in new economic activity across the state. With your support, the BUMP campaign will ensure the same New Yorkers who work so hard every day to help families struggling with poverty aren’t forced to live on poverty wages themselves.

06/04/2026

Catina (), a youth care advocate at a residence for teen and young mothers, spoke about how hard it can be for care workers to stay afloat when the cost of living keeps rising and wages stay the same.

Public sector service workers providing essential care to New Yorkers should not themselves have to struggle to afford basic expenses, like rent, food, and education.

Human service workers deserve better than poverty pay. Join our campaign to tell our New York legislators to Bring Up Minimum Pay.

06/02/2026

“We are fighting for higher wages for this amazing workforce and all the work that they do.”

Melanie Hartzog, President & CEO of , joined Assemblymember Karines Reyes () in the Bronx to highlight the urgent need for better pay for New York’s human services workers.

At this Foundling residence, care workers provide around-the-clock support to young mothers connected to the foster care system and young adults with developmental disabilities — yet over 80% of human service worker households with children in New York State still do not earn enough to meet the basic cost of living.

The campaign is fighting for $29/hour because care workers deserve fair pay for the essential, life-saving work they do.

06/01/2026

“It’s not just about providing services—it’s about making sure the people providing those services are not living in poverty.”

Assemblymember Karines Reyes (), sponsor of the Assembly legislation, spoke about the urgent need for a livable wage for care workers.

According to a study by , over 80% of human service worker households with children in New York cannot afford the basic cost of living. By raising the wages of our lowest-paid care workers, New York could lift 100,000 New Yorkers out of poverty and drive up to $23 billion in new economic activity across the state, all while strengthening the essential care all of our communities depend on.

Workers deserve dignity, stability, and a living wage.
Let’s BUMP UP THE PAY, NEW YORK 📣

05/22/2026

Buffalo came together for 📣

Hosted by Assemblymember , providers, advocates, and human services workers gathered for an important conversation about the workforce crisis facing Buffalo nonprofits and the urgent need for a $29/hour wage floor.

Organizations spoke about low and stagnant wages, high turnover, and the reality that many workers — most of whom are women and people of color — are working multiple jobs just to survive.

Assemblymember Rivera emphasized that investing in this workforce is the responsibility of the state and that continued coalition-building and advocacy will be key to getting it done.

Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and for appreciating the workforce!

05/22/2026

Last week’s conversations in Buffalo put a spotlight on the workers holding communities together every day.

Jennifer March, Chief Advancement Officer at , joined ’s Emyle Watkins to talk about the human services workforce crisis and the urgent need for investment in the people providing critical care and support across New York.

Jennifer highlighted that many essential workers, mostly of whom are women and people of color, are struggling with stagnant wages and increasingly being forced to work multiple jobs just to survive.

BUMP is uniting advocates across the state, demanding a $29/hour wage floor so human services workers can earn a living that reflects the essential care they provide.

05/20/2026

Assemblymember joined ’s Emyle Watkins to discuss the urgent need to support the workers who care for children, families, older adults, and vulnerable New Yorkers every day.

A growing workforce crisis is facing the sector: low wages and high turnover are pushing this workforce to the breaking point, and the people who depend on them can feel it too.

BUMP is calling for a $29 hour rate for state-contracted human service workers.

05/19/2026

Mia’s story is one of separation, resilience, and the long fight to bring her family back together.

Her experience reflects what the families of too many New York’s human service workers face and why stronger community support and advocacy matter now more than ever.

BUMP is working to uplift families and create real change for those who need it most.

Take action with us: BUMP UP THE PAY📣

05/08/2026

Human services workers do essential work for New York families, yet many of them need to work multiple shifts to afford basic necessities.

Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of speaks up at a panel held by Institute for State & Local Governance.

These workers support our communities, care for those in need, and keep critical services running. But low wages are pushing workers out and making it harder to keep these services strong.

Join our movement for a $29 .

05/07/2026

We can’t have a strong system if we don’t support the people doing the work.

At the Institute for State & Local Governance panel, Henry Garrido Executive Director of , made it clear: inadequate pay for human services workers has consequences that ripple across entire communities — from elders to children to all who rely on care.

It’s time to invest in this workforce.

BUMP UP THE PAY 📣

04/30/2026

Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of , the truth. We’ve built a system where the people providing human care services can’t afford to stay in New York State.

When pay doesn’t match the cost of living, turnover isn’t surprising, it’s inevitable. The solution is clear, invest in the workforce.

BUMP UP THE PAY. 📣

Address

New York, NY

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when BUMP New York posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category