Help Support the Wifi4Homeless Campaign | Action Alerts & Resources

Thousands of residents in temporary housing lack basic internet access. The consequences of this stark digital divide on the lives of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness is devastating. These individuals and families are unable to search and apply for permanent housing and jobs, participate in remote schooling, apply for government benefits, stay connected to friends and family, access basic entertainment, or obtain necessary medical care and legal services.

Legislation has been introduced that would ensure internet access for all individuals residing in temporary housing, with the cost covered by the State.  Under the bill, temporary housing (which we refer to generally as “shelters”) would include but not be limited to, shelters for adults, shelters for adult families, small-capacity shelters, shelters for families with children, domestic violence shelters, runaway and homeless youth shelters, shelters in hotels or shelters for refugees. This bill would represent a huge step towards closing the digital divide by ensuring that all shelter residents across New York State are finally guaranteed reliable internet access.

📣 New development: Empire State Development has committed up to $20 million to bring internet access to homeless shelters statewide. The funding is there — now the Legislature must act. Session ends June 4. Read our full statement.

BILL INFORMATION

A.1755-A (AM Reyes) / S.8026-A (Sen. Gonzalez)

STATUS

A.1755-A is currently in the Assembly Ways & Means Committee; S.8026-A is in the Senate Social Services Committee.

Session ends June 4, 2026 — urge your legislators to act now!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Contact your legislators directly. Urge them to support passage of A.1755-A / S.8026-A before session ends June 4, 2026.
  • For organizations. Issue your own memo or letter in support of the bill. It is critical that legislators hear from as many organizations as possible to demonstrate the breadth of support.
  • For individuals.  Send a personalized email or make a short phone call to your State representatives. Your message doesn’t need to be long — just say (1) that you support closing the digital divide by ensuring all New Yorkers experiencing homelessness have access to reliable internet in their shelters, and (2) that you urge them to support A.1755-A / S.8026-A.  To find your State representatives and how to contact them, click on the following links: Assembly | Senate.
    • Click here for a template support memo you can personalize.
    • Memos/letters should be sent to bill sponsors, members of the Assembly Ways & Means and Senate Social Services Committees, Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Hochul. See contact information below.
  • For more information and helpful talking points, see the “Resources” section below.
• Add your organization’s name to the list of bill supporters. A joint support memo listing bill supporters has been created and will be provided to legislators as part of related advocacy materials. Click here to view the support memo and click here add your organization’s name.
• Engage on social media. Join the conversation by expressing your support for closing the digital divide. Use social media to raise awareness of the issue, engage with policymakers, and encourage your network to do the same. Follow and use the hashtag #WiFi4Homeless in your posts.
• Share these actions with your network. Please feel free to share this action items with your professional or personal networks. And if your organization can create its own action alerts to activate your followers / members, please consider doing so! The more folks we can engage on this, the better!
• Reach out to Elizabeth Kocienda (ekocienda@nycbar.org) with any questions you may have. Please also send her:
  • A copy of your support memo/letter when it is issued.
  • Updates on your outreach to legislators and/or their staff. This will help us keep track of which legislators are being contacted and how much support the bill has.
  • Your contact information so they can keep you updated on the bill and future opportunities to help support the legislation.

WHO TO CONTACT 

CHAIRS OF THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES & LEADERSHIP

*Ask them to support the passage of A.1755-A / S.8026-A

GOVERNOR HOCHUL

• Send a message using her online web portal. Select “Legislation” as the Topic and write “Please Sign #Wifi4Homeless into Law” as your Subject.
• Call 1-518-474-8390 (Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm) and leave a message urging the Governor to sign A.1755 / S.8026 into law.

RELEVANT COMMITTEE MEMBERS

*Ask them to support A.1755-A / S.8026-A by signing on as a cosponsor and voting to support the bill when it comes for a vote in their committee or when it is discussed in conference.  Individual members contact information can be found by clicking through to their websites.

• NYS Assembly Ways & Means Committee
• NYS Senate Social Services Committee

BILL SPONSORS

*Thank them for their sponsorship!

Contact:
Elizabeth Kocienda, Director of Advocacy | New York City Bar Association | ekocienda@nycbar.org