Governor Kathy Hochul announced additional emergency food aid of $65 million Thursday, on top of $40 million earlier this month. She declared a state of emergency as SNAP benefits for around 3 million New Yorkers are set to run out Saturday. That money would go through food banks and pantries.
But Joel Berg of the Hunger Action Network said despite the positive impact it will have on hunger, the assistance falls far short of what’s needed for those about to lose food stamps.
“We understand that charities can provide even a microscopic part of a Band-Aid to the solution. The SNAP benefits equal 10 times, 10 times the dollar amount of food distributed by every charity in America," Berg said.
(People in need of emergency food assistance can find it here)
Carolyn Martinez-Class of Citizen Action agreed. She noted under-resourced and understaffed food banks "are not ready to scale up to meet the level of crisis we're talking about. ...there's no way to staff a food bank today for what the need is going to be" once benefits run out and people turn to emergency food options
Citizen Action, Hunger Action Network and VOCAL NY are among a reported more than 250 groups that signed a letter asking Hochul to use state reserve funds to make people’s SNAP benefit cards whole for the month of November.
Hochul argued the state doesn’t have the money. But the advocacy groups contend there is a $30 billion state reserve. About $650 million would be needed.
The groups pointed out in a response to the Governor Thursday that other states, such as Virginia and Delaware have pledged to fund SNAP through November.
“Governor Hochul is correct that the top way to end this crisis is for the GOP to compromise to re-open the government by reducing health care premium hikes. She is also correct that the USDA should not withhold SNAP benefits during the shutdown, and that the federal government should reimburse states that fund SNAP benefits during this shutdown. But none of those facts will feed hungry New Yorkers,” the groups said in a release.
WIDESPREAD IMPACT
Martinez-Class said the benefits do not just help people buy groceries. They also spread economic impact to stores where people shop, to farmers whose food is bought with SNAP aid, and to employees of people at all levels of food production and distribution.
Berg pointed out the scope of those impacted led to the broad coalition urging Hochul to fully fund SNAP.
"Unions that represent supermarket workers would be hurt.
Groups that work with low-income people like Hunger Free America are the people we represent would be grievously harmed. Farmers in New York State would be harmed. So the harm is just so clear (which is) why the coalition to prevent this is so big," said Berg
Meanwhile Senators Schumer and Gillibrand today pushed a measure in congress that would fund SNAP and WIC despite the government shutdown, called the Keep SNAP and WIC Funding Acto of 2025.
“In the richest country of the world, this is an absolute failure. I’m joining my democratic colleagues in supporting the ‘Keep SNAP and WIC funding act of 2025, which would ensure that SNAP and WIC programs remain funded through this republican shutdown. The legislation also requires that the federal government reimburse states who covered SNAP funding.”
They implored congressional leaders to take up a vote they say would be sure to pass.
