POUGHKEEPSIE – The anti-poverty organization Community Voices Heard stood on the steps of the Dutchess County Social Services Office in Poughkeepsie so their voices could be heard as they lobby for federal stimulus money to pay for jobs.

The Newburgh-based organization is pushing for $100 million in stimulus money to create jobs for unemployed, low-income New Yorkers.

Johannsis Peralta of Dutchess County is unemployed and she would welcome the opportunity to work and pay taxes.

“It would actually be a job that would be paying instead of work experience that is what social services does,” she said. “Instead of forcing you to work for your assistance check, you will be actually getting paid for the job that we are doing and in the long run, you would be paying your taxes so it’s not like you are dependent on social services; you are working with the system to become independent.”

Community Voices Heard said the state demonstrated a positive commitment to transitional jobs in this year’s budget through new allocations of $25 million to five new and existing subsidized employment programs for welfare recipients.