Our Mission

Established in 1947, the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers. We are dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents by responding to their needs through the promotion and development of public policies and direct services.

HWCLI serves the interests of Long Islanders, representing and supporting the organizations that serve them by:

• Illuminating the issues that critically impact them
• Organizing community and regional responses to their needs
• Advocacy, research and policy analysis
• Providing services, information and education

We accomplish our mission through a three-pronged strategy:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 take a comprehensive, interconnected approach to addressing suburban poverty and advancing equity across Long Island. Through a combination of direct services, policy advocacy, and sector-wide convening, we work to strengthen the systems that impact our region’s most vulnerable residents.

We operate a series of programs and direct services that tackle critical challenges such as nutritional security, access to healthcare, affordable health insurance, and economic stability. Alongside our network of nonprofit partners, we provide a crucial safety net for individuals and families who earn too much to qualify for federal assistance but struggle to meet the high cost of living on Long Island.

Simultaneously, we engage with local, state, and federal governments to advocate for and drive policy solutions that prioritize the needs of Long Islanders. By bringing together nonprofits, business leaders, and lawmakers, we foster collaboration and drive innovative solutions to our region’s most pressing challenges.

At the core of HWCLI’s approach is our role as a convener. Through coalition building and grassroots organizing, we bring together community stakeholders—uniting all voices around our shared challenges. By creating spaces for open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, we amplify our collective voice and drive meaningful change across Long Island. We recognize that together, our sector is stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to serve our communities.