During Hispanic Heritage Month, Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $3 Million for the Spanish Action League ‘La Liga’ to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence

Governor Kathy Hochul today hosted a Statewide Hispanic Heritage Breakfast at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where she announced a $2.75 million state investment to the Spanish Action League "La Liga," closing a critical funding gap for the organization. The state investment will provide housing accommodations for survivors of domestic violence, helping advance La Liga Westside Village's affordable and supportive housing development in Syracuse.

"Supporting survivors of domestic violence is personal to me. My own mother dedicated her life to supporting survivors after witnessing domestic violence in her own home - and I'm proud to continue her legacy today," Governor Hochul said. "No New Yorker should ever feel afraid in their own home, and this investment will provide a supportive path forward for survivors as they rebuild. New York will never stop fighting to better protect survivors in our state."

La Liga is a Syracuse-based community institution that has partnered with Acacia Network - a housing, social services and economic development non-profit organization - and Acacia Real Estate Network to provide services throughout New York State and beyond. For more than 50 years, La Liga has provided critical supports to New Yorkers across Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cortland and Cayuga counties, and has aligned with the Governor's mission to strengthen services for survivors of domestic violence and their families.

Acacia Network President and CEO Raul Russi said, "Acacia Network and La Liga are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for this $2.75 million investment in Westside Village. After years of working to move this project forward, this critical funding brings us closer to creating 68 safe, affordable homes for families on Syracuse's Westside, including supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence. We are proud to build on La Liga's more than 55-year legacy of serving Latino families across Central New York and look forward to bringing this long-awaited vision to life."

Governor Hochul's $2.75 million investment will create 68 new affordable housing units across five buildings in the Westside Village. These 68 affordable housing units will consist of 29 permanent supportive housing units for unhoused survivors of domestic violence and 39 affordable units for low-income households with a community space and a dedicated resident garden featured in the spaces.

Support from the State will help to create a safe and stable housing environment for survivors of domestic violence and their families. Alongside state resources to law enforcement to help empower district attorneys in holding violent offenders accountable and supportive resources for survivors, La Liga will also provide domestic violence counseling, case management, and a path forward for survivors as they rebuild their lives financially and seek employment opportunities.

During the reception, the Governor also recognized the public service of U.S. Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Adriano Espaillat, as well as five frontline legal defense and advocacy organizations that are providing legal services for unaccompanied immigrant youth across the state. These organizations include: Catholic Charities Community Services, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Safe Passage Project, Project Rousseau and Empire Justice Center. This recognition follows the Governor's announcement in August 2026, providing $7.25 million in new funding to provide legal services for approximately 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant children and youth in New York who are facing active removal proceedings.

Hispanic Heritage Month in New York

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Governor Hochul and the Office of General Services announced the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit titled "Unidos, Somos Mas. Together, We Are More." The exhibit is now open to the public on the second floor of the New York State Capitol.

The free Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibition - available in English and Spanish for the first time - will be on view in the Governor's Reception Room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays through October 15, 2026.

The Governor also signed a proclamation declaring the 30-day period from September 15 to October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the anniversaries of independence for several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile, while recognizing Día de la Raza on October 12.