Mayor Adams Announces Emergency Response to Prepare for Pause in Snap Funding for 1.8 Million New Yorkers During Federal Government Shutdown

Mayor Adams Announces Emergency Response to Prepare for Pause in Snap Funding for 1.8 Million New Yorkers During Federal Government Shutdown

City Adds $15 Million in Emergency Funding to Community Food Connection Program, Supplementing Existing City-Funded Food Programs for New Yorkers in Need

SNAP Costs $420 Million a Month to Support 1.8 Million New Yorkers, Including 540,000 Children and 540,000 Older Adults

City Deploys Interagency Response and Targeted Outreach Efforts to Connect SNAP Recipients to Alternative Food Programs, Resources, and Benefits

New York City Already Allocated $820 Million on Food Programs This Fiscal Year

Over Course of Adams Administration, City Has Doubled Funding for Community Food Connection Program, Doubling Amount of Food Distributed in a Single Fiscal Year with More Than 47 Million Pounds of Food Distributed in Fiscal Year 2025

City Calls on All Key Stakeholders to Come Together to Ensure No New Yorker Goes Hungry

Oct 30, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced $15 million in emergency funding for food assistance coupled with an all-hands-on-deck response to prepare for the unprecedented food emergency created by the ongoing federal government shutdown. As of November 1, nearly 1.8 million New York City residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table will not receive the federally-funded benefits to which they are entitled. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not issued any contingency funds to provide for this critical lifeline during the protracted shutdown.  

As of today, $420 million in federal funding provides monthly SNAP benefits to New Yorkers in need, including 540,000 children and more than 540,000 older adults. The New York City Department of Social Services (DSS), the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy (MOFP), and all social services agencies are working in close collaboration to connect impacted New Yorkers to critical resources and shore up the existing safety net to provide for anticipated increases in need as the city uses every tool at its disposal to ensure that no New Yorker goes hungry during this crisis. The city stands ready to support New Yorkers while working with a coalition of key stakeholders — including the philanthropic community, the non-profit sector, faith leaders, and governmental partners — to advocate for urgent federal action. Affected New Yorkers should visit the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy website to learn more.  

“As a working-class mayor who grew up in a family living on the edge of homelessness and that relied on government assistance, I will always fight for our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Adams. “The federal government shutdown is threatening to cut access to food for 1.8 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to feed their families. It’s time to put political differences aside and end this shutdown. In the meantime, New York City already allocates approximately $800 million for food services across our different agencies, and we are proud to step up with an additional $15 million in emergency support for our food pantries and providers who are on-the-ground making sure families in need are fed during this time. We are activating all of our social services agencies to ensure they are prepared to contribute where they can, and we urge our philanthropic partners, faith leaders, and community members to contribute even more.”  

“In the absence of federal action, our city is stepping up to ensure continued support for the nearly one in five New Yorkers who rely on SNAP benefits,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Suzanne Miles-Gustave. “This is a moment for local, state, philanthropic, corporate, and faith communities to unite in the face of federal inaction and provide the supports individuals and families need to survive and thrive. New York City will always lead in times like these, and we will continue to address the impacts of the federal shutdown as they arise.” 

“As it stands, nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers will not receive their SNAP benefits in November because the federal government would rather use the threat of widespread hunger to advance their callous political program than actually support hungry Americans,” said DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We will not stand by as the federal government abdicates its most basic responsibilities and endangers our neighbors. We will use every tool available to mitigate the impacts of this needlessly cruel decision, which includes the provision of $15 million in new emergency funding to immediately support our robust network of food pantries and soup kitchens. But these efforts cannot fill the massive void that a lapse in SNAP benefits would create. The federal government must take immediate action to fund SNAP so the 42 million Americans who rely on these benefits can continue to put food on their tables.”    

“As the federal government threatens to deny nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers their SNAP benefits and create a hunger crisis so close to Thanksgiving, we are collectively working around the clock to ensure that families have the resources they need to get through this difficult time,” said New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Administrator Scott French. “This continuous support includes communicating to all SNAP recipients the presence of expanded CFC-funded food pantries and community kitchens in their neighborhoods and reaching out to Medicaid members to connect them to life-sustaining food services. With no federal assistance on the horizon, we are exploring every option available to provide relief to New Yorkers in need.” 

“Access to nutritious food is essential to your health,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Diagnoses like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure require nutritious foods without too much sugar or salt to keep our patients out of the hospital. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams and our colleagues across city government for their commitment to fresh, healthy food for New Yorkers.” 

“The federal government is deliberately creating a crisis of fear and hunger, continuing their cruel denial of vital resources that keep people nourished, and local businesses and farms alive,” said MOFP Executive Director Kate MacKenzie. “While this $15 million will provide much needed food resources to the essential food pantry network and the millions of meals they will provide, that network is already serving persistently high numbers of people in need throughout the city. SNAP is one of the most effective tools to fight hunger. The federal government must act immediately to continue funding these benefits.” 

“This administration’s commitment to older adults leaves an incredible legacy supporting older New Yorkers, and today’s announcement only adds to it,” said NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “We have addressed financial insecurity while implementing policies and procedures to help them age in place. But since the news that SNAP will be paused, older adults have been terrified of what it may mean for them and their families. Over $1.1 billion of SNAP benefits will be lost by approximately 400,000 New York City older adults who currently receive them, and this announcement relieves that stress. I encourage older New Yorkers to call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC for referrals and more information, or visit an older adult center to receive a meal and support signing up for other programs you may qualify for.” 

On top of the $15 million announced today to strengthen the safety net for food-insecure New Yorkers, the city has allocated more than $820 million in this fiscal year for food services programs. This includes: 

$627 million for New York Public Schools food programming. 

$70.6 million for NYC Aging home delivery meal program for older adults. 

$58.6 million for DSS Community Food Connection (CFC). 

$41.8 million for NYC Aging older adult center congregate meals. 

$10 million for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Groceries to Go program. 

$8.5 million for food pantry funding administered by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). 

$4 million for Cornerstone meals for youth in New York City Housing Authority sites administered by DYCD.     

The pause in SNAP funding is devastating to the overall safety net and also threatens local economies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that every dollar of SNAP spending generates $1.54, which means that $1 billion in SNAP dollars spent increases the gross domestic product of the United States by $1.54 billion. 

The city is deploying a comprehensive response to ensure at-risk New Yorkers have access to food through a variety of alternative programs and services, managing a comprehensive resource list for impacted SNAP recipients, and conducting outreach efforts in close collaboration with the city’s robust network of community-based organizations and food providers.  

The city’s multi-pronged response includes:  

Funding the Community Food Connection Program 

DSS’s CFC program provides funding to over 700 community-based food organizations that work to ensure that no New Yorker goes hungry. The city is adding $15 million as an emergency, one-time funding supplement to the CFC budget to respond to this crisis. As part of the city’s emergency response to the prolonged shutdown, DSS and HRA are proactively informing all SNAP recipients about this critical resource and sharing necessary guidance to ensure they have access to a conveniently located CFC-funded food programs or pantries.  

Since the start of the Adams administration, the city has more than doubled funding for the CFC program, from approximately $27 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 to $58.6 million in FY 2026; revamped the program to prioritize the supply of fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables; and strengthened access to food programs across the five boroughs by refining the Food Help NYC Map and optimizing the mobile use of the map to help users find the nearest food pantry or soup kitchen. With increased funding during the Adams administration, the city more than doubled the amount of food distributed in a single fiscal year, with more than 47 million pounds of food distributed in FY 2025 to community-based food programs citywide. 

Increasing Outreach to Medicaid Members to Access Food Through Social Care Network Program 

The Social Care Network (SCN) program connects eligible Medicaid members with support for health-related social needs, including access to healthy food. In partnership with the state, the city is proactively working with New Yorkers on Medicaid to be screened and assessed for eligibility. HRA is intensifying efforts to encourage Medicaid members to get screened through the SCN network to see if they may be able to access critical food services, which includes pantry restocking, cooking supplies, and medically-tailored meals and food prescriptions. New Yorkers can get screened at locations across the five boroughs.  

Strengthening and Expanding Access to Meals Across City Agencies  

New York City Public Schools always provides access to free, healthy, and delicious breakfast and lunch. While potential SNAP disruptions may affect school communities, students can continue to count on their school meals without disturbance. New York City Public Schools currently serves and will continue to serve approximately 900,000 meals per day to students.  

Older New Yorkers are encouraged to visit NYC Aging’s over 300 older adult centers across the city for a daily meal that is nutritious and delicious, in addition to the socialization, health-and-wellness programs, and educational and recreational activities they offer. In FY 2025, 10.2 million meals to older adults were served through NYC Aging providers across the city. Older adults can call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC for assistance, information, and referrals.  

The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) will be working closely with its non-profit providers — including its family services programs, Family Enrichment Centers, and community partnerships — to increase the availability of food for families. ACS is also working to keep its borough office food pantries stocked with healthy food for families served by those offices. 

Advocating for Philanthropic Support 

The city is urging philanthropic partners to support these emergency efforts by making contributions to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to support the food provider network. 

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Contact: City Hall Press Office, 212-788-2958