Gov. Kathy Hochul visits Common Pantry in New York, NY, in anticipation of the looming cut-off of SNAP benefits. Photo courtesy of Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in response to the potential lapse of funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are set to expire Nov. 1 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The governor’s declaration, announced Thursday, will allocate an additional $65 million in funding for emergency food assistance provided by food banks and pantries around the state. The governor is also deploying Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps Members to help local food banks.
The SNAP program, commonly known as food stamps, is federally funded, but money directed through the program is administered by individual states. New York distributes about $650 million in food assistance benefits each month for almost 3 million New Yorkers.
Given the scale of SNAP, Hochul and other governors across the country say state governments cannot replace funding lost from cuts to the program. Officials from 25 states filed a lawsuit earlier this week urging President Donald Trump to continue funding SNAP through federal contingency funding.
The Trump administration has argued it does not have the authority to use contingency funding because of the government shutdown.
“Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table,” Hochul said in a statement. “This is a food emergency, and I want to unleash every tool at our disposal to keep New Yorkers from going hungry.”
Under the emergency declaration, the state will provide $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 through food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.
Hochul is also directing $25 million in additional funds for Nourish NY, a program that connects surplus agricultural products to food relief organizations like food banks and food pantries.
Hochul said she expects the new investment to provide around 40 million meals. The announcement is part of a series of emergency food funding distributed by the state over the past two weeks, totalling $106 million.
The state’s emergency measures are expected to take effect immediately and remain in place until federal food assistance funding is restored.
David Escobar is a Report For America Corps Member. He reports on diversity issues in the Adirondacks through a partnership between North Country Public Radio and Adirondack Explorer.