October 16, 2008
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $170 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NEW YORK’S FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Passage of Federal Farm Bill and Adjustments to HEAP Will Provide Increased Benefits for New York’s Neediest Households
Additional $1 Million Provided to Food Banks Across New York
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State has implemented changes to the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) that will result in an increase of $150 million in Federal Food Stamp benefits for low-and moderate-income families. Additionally, the passage of this year’s federal Farm Bill provided an extra $20 million to New York’s Food Stamp program for next year. In total, changes to New York’s Food Stamp program have resulted in more than $170 million in federal funds next year for our State’s neediest families, with increases in future years. Governor Paterson also announced $1 million in funding for food banks across the State to provide further assistance for low-income New Yorkers.
“During these difficult economic times we must do what we can to ensure that New York’s families have the resources they need to feed their families,” said Governor Paterson. “The changes the State has implemented will not only benefit New York’s most vulnerable populations, but will infuse hundreds of millions of new federal dollars into our State’s economy at a time when we need it most.”
At the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center in Manhattan, Governor Paterson was joined by U.S. Congressman Charlie Rangel, New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Commissioner Robert Doar, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblyman Keith Wright, State Senator José Serrano, Assemblyman Jonathan Bing and Dr. Lucy Cabrera, President and CEO of the Food Bank of New York City, in announcing the changes that will provide an average increase of $118 in monthly food stamp benefits to nearly 115,000 low-income households statewide who qualify for a new HEAP grant that triggers an increase in their monthly food stamp allocation. Nearly 90,000 households in New York City will see an average monthly increase of $131, while 25,000 households throughout the rest of the State will see an average monthly increase of $72.
U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel said: “Under the Farm Bill legislation that I and Democrats championed in Congress, seven out of ten federal dollars went to Food Stamps and other nutrition programs that help stocks our local city's food pantries and soup kitchens. The bill also expanded the successful Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to every State, targeting benefits to low-income children to promote child health and nutrition. It’s the kind of investment that our government needs to make in its people because it is the right thing to do – both morally and economically. Published studies say there is a strong relation between nutrition and success in school for our children. Studies also show that that every Food Stamp dollar generates over $1.80 in economic activity. That is why we as Democrats are looking to return to work directly after the November elections to pass an addition recovery package aimed at the working and middle class. In fact, a $60 billion package that would have added $2.6 billion to temporarily increase food stamp payments passed the House in late September. It’s a move that died at the foot of the Senate that we hope to revive to try to help the more than 27.8 million individuals and 12.5 million households that don’t need a handout but a helping hand to stay out of poverty.” HRA Commissioner Robert Doar said: “Under Mayor Bloomberg, the City has been a leader in improving the accessibility of the food stamp program for working New Yorkers. We are proud to have been a key partner in the effort to increase food assistance for residents of NYCHA housing.”
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said: “Thousands of New Yorkers will face unprecedented choices this winter. Food or Heat? A winter coat or a doctor’s visit? This important new benefit ensures that almost 90,000 New Yorkers will not go hungry as the cold winter months draw near. And it marks government’s commitment to solving the food crisis by bolstering the safety net for New Yorkers in need and creating new opportunities for access to healthy food.”
State Senator Liz Krueger said: “I want to applaud Governor Paterson for his vision in pro-actively moving us ahead of other states in creatively expanding federally paid for Food Stamp benefits for over 100,000 of the poorest New Yorkers living in public housing. As food prices soar and the economy plummets, we need to be even more creative in maximizing federal benefits through outreach to those eligible, but not yet participating in this program. And, we need to use every option available to maximize benefits while urging our next President and Congressional representatives to further increase Food Stamp benefits as part of their efforts to jump start our economy and help states like New York deal with severe economic burdens. Food Stamps are a win/win for our State. Every new dollar in Food Stamps is immediately spent in a neighborhood food store or green market, helps low-income families meet their nutritional needs, and creates jobs in both our residential communities and on our farms.”
Assemblyman Keith Wright said: “While there is always more that can be done to assist low-income New Yorkers, the $150 million increase in food stamp benefits will certainly help New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet during dire economic circumstances. While most states are cutting benefits to the least fortunate, New York is working hard to support these families in need by increasing eligibility for the Home Energy Assistance Program and expanding job training opportunities via the Career Pathways Program, as well as by putting more food on the tables of working families. Food stamp benefits help many working New Yorkers by relieving the pressures of choosing between paying necessary bills and putting food on the table. I thank Governor Paterson for his leadership in helping ease the burden on families throughout our state as a tough winter approaches.”
State Senator José M. Serrano said: “In my district, a severe lack of nutritious and affordable food has led to high rates of preventable disease. Earlier this year I developed a Task Force that has mapped out supermarket closures and worked to develop comprehensive steps to improve public health. None of this is possible without purchasing power. So many of my constituents moving up the socio-economic ladder rely on food stamps to help feed their families. I applaud Governor Paterson for marshalling the full force of the State government to bring the freedom of food back to where we need it the most: in the working class neighborhoods of our city.”
Assemblyman Jonathan Bing said: “The Stanley Isaacs Houses and Holmes Towers where we stand today are a vital part of the East Side and my District. They are, however, located in the most expensive part of New York State to live, shop for groceries, and make ends meet. That’s why Governor Paterson’s announcement today, in this time of great fiscal uncertainty, is so important to Isaacs and Holmes residents and all New Yorkers facing concerns about how they will feed their families.”
Dr. Lucy Cabrera, President and CEO of the Food Bank For New York City, said: “The increased funding for food stamp benefits and emergency food comes at a critically important time for the 1.3 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put food on the table. Governor Paterson’s policies will bring public housing residents and other low-income New Yorkers critical food assistance, and we are grateful to him for bringing broad public attention to the increased benefits available to those who need it most. The Food Bank is looking forward to working with him and his Administration to find additional innovative ways to bring federal benefits to all New Yorkers in need.” The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for oversight of the Food Stamp program and HEAP in New York State, while the administration of both programs is handled locally. HRA administers the HEAP and Food Stamp programs for the five boroughs of New York City.
Additional changes authorized by the Federal Farm Bill that OTDA will implement at the earliest possible time include:
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- An increase in the minimum monthly benefit from $10 to $14;
- Elimination of a cap on the amount of out-of-pocket dependent care (principally child care) costs that can be allowed as an income deduction in the calculation of benefits, a move expected to increase benefits to nearly 11,000 households;
- The permanent exclusion of combat pay in the calculation of benefits;
- The exclusion of tax preferred retirement accounts such as Keogh Plans, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Simplified Employer Plans, Profit Sharing Plans and Cash Balance Plans from countable resources for any households still subject to resource limits (New York State eliminated resource limits for virtually all Food Stamp households as of January 1, 2008); and
- The exclusion of tax preferred educational accounts, such as 529s and Coverdell education savings accounts, from countable resources for any households subject to resource limits.
In addition to the thousands of New York families that will benefit from the Farm Bill changes, the primary beneficiaries of the HEAP program change are low-income families living in public and Section 8 housing, including housing operated by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
Additional quotes provided include:
David Hansell, Commissioner of OTDA, said: “These changes are in keeping with Governor Paterson’s commitment to helping increase the economic security for our low-income families by helping to meet their nutritional needs, assist them in addressing their housing and child care expenses, and encourage savings for retirement and education.”
Tino Hernandez, Chairman of NYCHA, said: “In these tough economic times we are all being asked to do more with less and for families that live on fixed incomes this becomes an even greater challenge. An increase in food stamp benefits will help the neediest public housing and Section 8 residents make ends meet and enable these households to feed their families.”
Anne Erickson, President and CEO of Empire Justice Center, said: “Empire Justice Center applauds Governor Paterson, our state legislators and Congressional delegation for their efforts to put food on the table and money directly in the pockets of struggling New Yorkers. Taken together, these funding increases and policy changes will have an immensely positive impact not only New York’s low income workforce, but also those who rely on fixed incomes, such as senior citizens and the disabled. As lawyers and advocates for the poor, we particularly appreciate Governor Paterson’s recognition that in difficult economic times low income New Yorkers need additional benefits and an even stronger economic safety net to help guard against financial devastation.”
John Evers, Executive Director of the Food Bank Association of New York State, said: “We are very gratified that the Governor has granted special food bank aid to help us to continue to supply food for New York’s neediest. With the current state of the economy, and as we approach winter, this aid will help supply food to the over two million people who depend on food banks. Over the past year demand at food bank-supported programs has increased dramatically all across New York State – and increases are expected to continue. With some areas of the state experiencing 25 percent to 30 percent increased demand at emergency feeding programs, this aid could not come at a better time. Thank you Governor Paterson.”
Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, said: “When the economy gets a cold, poor people get pneumonia. That’s why it is so vital for the State to maximize every penny from the federal government to help struggling New Yorkers feed their families. I applaud Governor Paterson for his leadership in maximizing the amount of federal nutrition assistance benefits coming into the State.”
