ALBANY, New York (WWNY) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she is declaring a state of emergency in New York because of the impending shutdown of ‘SNAP’ benefits for millions of New Yorkers.
“The Trump Administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas and farmers along the way,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.
Hochul said she is committing an additional $65 million in state funds for emergency food assistance. That’s money which will go to food banks and pantries and is in addition to $41 million in food aid ‘fast tracked’ by the Hochul administration earlier this week.
Because of the government shutdown fight in Washington, federal money for SNAP benefits runs out as of Saturday.
Republicans and Democrats blame each other for the shutdown – Republicans say Democrats refuse to back a simple extension of the current federal budget for a few more weeks while negotiations take place over extending subsidies which made health insurance affordable for millions.
Democrats say Republicans need to roll back cuts they made this past summer which largely eliminated the subsidies. Democrats pointedly don’t trust the Republicans to keep their word and negotiate, without the threat of the government shutdown hanging over their heads.
Hochul said New York administers about $650 million in federal funds each month in SNAP benefits to just under three million New Yorkers.
The statement from Hochul’s office said her declaration of an emergency means:
– As noted, $65 million in new state funds for programs that support food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and more to provide emergency food assistance to New Yorkers.
– $40 million in new funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides emergency food relief and nutrition services to food-insecure populations. HPNAP works in partnership with a network of about 2,700 Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
– $25 million in new funding for Nourish NY, which supplies surplus agricultural products (e.g., milk, apples, cheese, yogurt, cabbage, squash) to populations who need them through the State’s network of food relief organizations (i.e., regional food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and community-based organizations that provide food for free to persons experiencing food insecurity).
– Deploying Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps Members to support food banks.
Currently, hundreds of SUNY students serve as peer navigators, helping fellow students complete SNAP applications and assisting at campus and local food pantries.
The Empire State Service Corps will allow current members to expand their paid hours, enabling them to provide greater support at food pantries statewide. In addition, new short-term crisis response positions will be created to assist food pantries and food banks facing staffing shortages.
Thursday’s announcement came in same week as New York, along with 24 other states, sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to demand the release of emergency SNAP funds. The Governor also joined a letter alongside 20 other Governors to the President, calling for the Administration to reverse course and release emergency SNAP funds.
Today’s announcement comes as New York, along with 24 other states, sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to demand the release of emergency SNAP funds. The Governor also joined a letter alongside 20 other Governors to the President, calling for the Administration to reverse course and release emergency SNAP funds. Governor Hochul also fast-tracked $41 million in state funds for emergency food assistance earlier this week — today’s announcement brings the total of allocated state funds to $106 million.
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