Urge Governor Hochul to Invest in Food Programs Critical to New Yorkers

SNAP is proven to be the nation’s most impactful hunger relief program, helping nearly 3 million New Yorkers, including 1 million children, afford food. SNAP alleviates food insecurity and is a critical tool for reducing child poverty. However, new federal SNAP cuts and electronic theft of SNAP benefits (also known as SNAP skimming) have put households at greater risk of food insecurity.

New federal provisions revoking SNAP eligibility for refugees, asylees and others with longstanding humanitarian protections will worsen food insecurity for approximately 41,000 New Yorkers escaping domestic violence, human trafficking, violence and persecution. In addition to those newly excluded because of H.R.1, many non-citizen households with children across New York State are also ineligible for SNAP, affecting nearly 65,000 children facing hunger.

Additionally, skimming theft has left New York families without funds to buy groceries and other necessities, placing financial stress on already vulnerable households. SNAP skimming can lead to families having to skip meals or put groceries back on the shelf after discovering their food benefits have been stolen.

Please take action to call on Governor Hochul and state leaders to invest in resources to enhance access to SNAP, protect existing SNAP benefits, and support programs that connect families to critical anti-hunger programs.