Emergency food providers across the five boroughs are feeling the strain from a recent
cut in the federal food stamp program according to the Food Bank of New York City.
A temporary increase to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
expired on November 1st and the program was hit with a $5 billion cut. The loss
amounts to an average of $29 per month for a household of three as estimated by the
Independent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Approximately 85% of the food pantries and soup kitchens in NYC saw an increase
ion overall visitors in November and 26% said they had to turn people way because
of insufficient food supplies. Food insecurity in New York has reach disturbing
historic highs.
Congress proposed the cuts to reduce the federal deficit. This is no way to do it.
Sheila McKinney
