Proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) threaten to impact hungry New Yorkers across the state, leading to potential losses of hundreds of dollars in benefits that families rely on for food.
On Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her concerns about the federal budget reconciliation bill presented by Republicans that aims to save $300 billion by reducing SNAP funding. This proposal would restrict access to this essential lifeline for families facing food insecurity, forcing states to shoulder significant additional costs.
State officials estimate that around 300,000 households in New York, including many in Staten Island, could lose some or all of their monthly benefits, with the average household facing a loss of approximately $220 each month.
“Every New Yorker deserves to eat every day – plain and simple,” said Governor Hochul. “I’m calling on our congressional leaders to join me and step up to the plate to protect the SNAP funding that families with children, seniors, New Yorkers with disabilities, local farmers and shop owners rely on to survive.”
Key changes proposed in the bill include new work requirements for able-bodied adults and a stricter age definition for dependents. The age limit for SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults would rise from 54 to 64, while the age definition of “dependent children” would drop from 18 to just 7.
Republicans behind the proposal argue that these changes are aimed at eliminating fraud and waste within the system while promoting employment among beneficiaries.
“New York has a payment error rate that surpasses the national average and has doubled in the last few years. As we look to eliminate fraud and waste, the state has three years to reduce its wrongful payments or it will have to fund a greater share of SNAP,” stated Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican representing Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn.
Contrastingly, New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park has expressed skepticism regarding these changes. “This is masked as connecting people to employment, but really, I think it is about getting to that $300 billion cut number, so there is support for tax breaks for the wealthiest,” Park indicated last month.
Furthermore, the greatest savings proposed through changes to SNAP would come from increasing cost-sharing with state governments. Traditionally, the federal government has covered 100% of SNAP benefits, but these proposed changes suggest shifting 15% to 25% of the costs to states, potentially costing New York state and local governments approximately $1.9 billion annually.
Additionally, while administrative costs are currently divided evenly between states and the federal government, the changes would require states to bear 75% of those costs, adding another $200 million burden each year.
“These proposals pose a grave threat to an effective and efficient program, which research consistently and clearly shows reduces hunger, supports work, and stimulates the economy – goals with national importance that justify continued federal investment. We encourage congressional leaders to act responsibly and not walk away from what has long been a federal commitment to fully funding SNAP benefits for all who are eligible,” stated New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn.
The proposed cuts would likely worsen an ongoing food security crisis on Staten Island, where many residents are already grappling with the challenge of feeding their families. Tens of thousands of Staten Islanders depend on government assistance and local food pantries for their next meals.
Compounding the issue, healthier food options like fresh fruits and meats often come at a higher price, leading many residents to opt for cheaper, processed alternatives that may negatively impact their long-term health.
In a series of articles titled “Health and Hunger on Staten Island,” the Advance/SILive.com examined local food insecurity and its effects on residents’ health, interviewing local nonprofits and healthcare experts on how the borough can better tackle this pervasive issue.
Food security and the adverse health consequences of poor diets affect thousands across Staten Island. Analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey and CDC’s 2023 PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, researchers found a link between higher dependency on government assistance for food and increased rates of diet-related health conditions.
In the 10304 ZIP code, where the highest percentage of households (26.1%) rely on SNAP benefits, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure rates among adults are particularly troubling at 36%, 13.9%, and 32.9%, respectively.
Conversely, in the 10308 ZIP code, where only 3.8% of households are reliant on SNAP, the rates of the same health issues are lower, sitting at 31.1%, 9.7%, and 29%. This data reveals alarming disparities; for instance, obesity rates among adults in 10304 exceed those in 10308 by 15.8%.
These trends generally persist throughout Staten Island, highlighting that economically disadvantaged communities face greater challenges in maintaining healthy diets. The potential loss of SNAP benefits due to proposed cuts could further strain grocery budgets, pushing families towards cheaper, less nutritious food options, and in dire cases, leaving them without adequate food altogether.
Another significant factor affecting food insecurity on Staten Island is the existence of food deserts. These areas have limited access to fresh produce due to a lack of grocery stores in neighborhoods.
Many areas, particularly on the North Shore of Staten Island, highlight this issue, where some residents depend on corner stores and bodegas which typically supply far less nutritious food than larger supermarkets. Shiara Ortiz-Pujols, director of medical weight loss for Staten Island University Hospital – Northwell Health, noted, “Food insecurity goes very much hand-in-hand with food deserts. … It’s not so much that there is a lack of food, but a lack of nutritious or fresh foods.”
Residents face considerable hurdles trying to access healthy foods due to the limited number of large grocery stores and low rates of car ownership, often having to rely on multiple public transport options to reach the nearest supermarket.
The USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas highlights numerous low-income regions on Staten Island where households are located more than half a mile from a supermarket but lack vehicle access, exacerbating their food insecurity.
Addressing food deserts has proven to be a complex challenge. Even when the need for more grocery stores is clear, there’s no mechanism in place to compel major companies to set up locations in underserved neighborhoods.
However, federal legislation, such as the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act recently reintroduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, provides hope. This initiative aims to allocate $50 million annually in mandatory funding to help incentivize grocery stores to open in underserved areas.
Senator Gillibrand states, “An easily accessible grocery store is a basic necessity, but hundreds of communities across our state don’t have consistent access to one.”
The initiative has seen success in the past, helping to open or expand grocery stores in Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, and Brooklyn.
As the potential SNAP cuts loom, advocacy for the protection and enhancement of food access initiatives remains crucial to ensuring that New Yorkers can feed their families and reduce crippling rates of food insecurity.
image source from：silive
