About Us – Public -Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI)

About Us

Our Mission

The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers that is dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents. We are the leader in helping Long Islanders navigate the complex web of available social services, connecting them with the appropriate resources to ensure their safety, health and well-being.

We accomplish our mission through a three-pronged strategy:

POLICY & ADVOCACY: We partner with local, state and government entities to advocate for impactful, equitable policy decisions that will lift up our neighbors and revitalize our hometowns.
COALITIONS & GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING: We bring together the talents and expertise of nonprofits, business leaders and lawmakers to craft and implement solutions to our region’s many challenges.
DIRECT SERVICES: We change lives by operating a series of programs that connect Long Islanders with the services they so desperately need to not only survive but thrive.

Our Approach

At HWCLI, we operate a series of programs that address the day-to-day challenges of suburban poverty, including nutritional security, access to healthcare, affordable health insurance and economic security. Together with our network of nonprofits, we provide a unique, crucial safety net for our neighbors who fall into an under-recognized category of suburban poverty – those who earn too much to qualify for federal assistance programs, but not enough to sustain the high cost of living on Long Island.

Simultaneously, we engage with local, state and federal government to advocate for strong policy agendas that prioritize Long Islanders and the systems and services that impact those who are most in need. We partner with agencies across the island to unite our region’s nonprofit community because we understand that together, our sector is more resilient and our voices, more powerful. We believe grassroots community engagement is essential.

Our direct service programs inform our policy, advocacy and convening work and vice versa. Each branch of our work is strengthened by the insights and understanding provided by the others.

HWCLI Serves Long Islanders By:

Educating and enrolling families in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and access to free or reduced-cost school meals and summer meal programs. HWCLI connects Long Island’s families with resources to purchase fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods which can be more costly.
Providing access to healthcare for children and adults by enrolling them in the New York State Health Insurance Marketplace. Research has shown that families struggling to make ends meet often forgo cost-prohibitive health insurance and preventative care, increasing the risk for sickness and trips to the emergency room.
Connecting seniors, the uninsured and others in need of advocacy to our Community Health Advocate Program, which helps in navigating the complex healthcare system. From Medicare options to finding a provider to respond to medical bills and insurance errors, HWCLI provides access to regular sources of affordable and appropriate care.

Connecting at-risk individuals and families with food, rental and mortgage assistance as the regional administrator for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, a federal initiative.
Convening and leading Long Island’s disaster planning and preparedness efforts.

Our Values

Gratitude is at the center of HWCLI’s core operating values. It is our greatest honor to serve our clients with the highest level of customer service, respect and kindness. We proudly partner with communities, agencies, government entities, and businesses to find new solutions to Long Island’s existing and emerging needs. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Long Island’s future as a more equitable region for all.