FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2012
Contact: Alisa Costa
(518) 436-8757 x 122
alisa.costa@hungersolutionsny.org
Albany, NY – The final state budget will connect thousands more struggling New Yorkers to the Food Stamp Program. This will help hungry New Yorkers and our state’s economy.
In his 2012 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo stated his commitment to make sure that no child in New York goes to bed hungry. In addition, he made a commitment to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program. He followed through on this commitment by increasing the state's investment in food stamp outreach and application assistance in his executive budget proposal. The New York State Legislature agreed with this investment and the increase is included in the final 2012-2013 State Budget.
"We commend Governor Cuomo for his increased investment in food stamp outreach and application assistance. We are eager to work with him to achieve his goals," said Linda Phelan Bopp. Bopp is executive director of Hunger Solutions New York, a statewide organization that manages the state and federally-funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). NOEP funding was increased by $1 million in the state budget which will enable the food stamp outreach program to significantly increase its efforts across New York State.
"Governor Cuomo is to be applauded for his strong leadership that goes to the heart of the problem faced by families who need nutrition assistance across New York State," said Bill Shapiro, board chair of Hunger Solutions New York.
"On behalf of hungry New Yorkers we thank Governor Cuomo for recognizing hunger as a problem that needs to be solved and for taking action," said Bopp.
The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), operated through community-based organizations, provides food stamp outreach, education and application assistance. Community-based outreach workers funded through NOEP:
• raise awareness of the Food Stamp Program in their community
• reduce stigma surrounding the program
• determine if people might be eligible for food stamp benefits, and
• help clients fill out the application and gather the required documentation.
As a direct result of NOEP assistance, approximately 25,000 households applied for and received food stamp benefits in New York State last year. This resulted in more than $84 million in federal food stamp benefits coming into New York State's economy.
According to the Food Research and Action Center, nearly 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggles to feed themselves and their families. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which is called the Food Stamp Program in New York State, is our country’s first line of defense against hunger. The Program helps people put food on their table and helps local economies through the grocery purchases made with food stamp benefits.
According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, more than 3 million New Yorkers were enrolled in the Food Stamp Program in December 2011. However, New York State has one of the lowest Food Stamp Program participation rates in the country with just 68% of eligible individuals enrolled in 2009 according to a recent USDA report.
Based on U.S. Census data compared with NYS enrollment data, roughly 500,000 seniors in New York State may be eligible for benefits but do not receive them.
A recent report from Children’s HealthWatch, “The SNAP Vaccine”, highlights the positive impact SNAP benefits have on children. SNAP benefits improve child health by having a preventive affect on risk of being underweight or having developmental delays.
To locate your nearest NOEP provider, please visit www.FoodHelpNY.org.
Contact: Alisa Costa
(518) 436-8757 x 122
alisa.costa@hungersolutionsny.org
Albany, NY – The final state budget will connect thousands more struggling New Yorkers to the Food Stamp Program. This will help hungry New Yorkers and our state’s economy.
In his 2012 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo stated his commitment to make sure that no child in New York goes to bed hungry. In addition, he made a commitment to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program. He followed through on this commitment by increasing the state's investment in food stamp outreach and application assistance in his executive budget proposal. The New York State Legislature agreed with this investment and the increase is included in the final 2012-2013 State Budget.
"We commend Governor Cuomo for his increased investment in food stamp outreach and application assistance. We are eager to work with him to achieve his goals," said Linda Phelan Bopp. Bopp is executive director of Hunger Solutions New York, a statewide organization that manages the state and federally-funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). NOEP funding was increased by $1 million in the state budget which will enable the food stamp outreach program to significantly increase its efforts across New York State.
"Governor Cuomo is to be applauded for his strong leadership that goes to the heart of the problem faced by families who need nutrition assistance across New York State," said Bill Shapiro, board chair of Hunger Solutions New York.
"On behalf of hungry New Yorkers we thank Governor Cuomo for recognizing hunger as a problem that needs to be solved and for taking action," said Bopp.
The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), operated through community-based organizations, provides food stamp outreach, education and application assistance. Community-based outreach workers funded through NOEP:
• raise awareness of the Food Stamp Program in their community
• reduce stigma surrounding the program
• determine if people might be eligible for food stamp benefits, and
• help clients fill out the application and gather the required documentation.
As a direct result of NOEP assistance, approximately 25,000 households applied for and received food stamp benefits in New York State last year. This resulted in more than $84 million in federal food stamp benefits coming into New York State's economy.
According to the Food Research and Action Center, nearly 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggles to feed themselves and their families. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which is called the Food Stamp Program in New York State, is our country’s first line of defense against hunger. The Program helps people put food on their table and helps local economies through the grocery purchases made with food stamp benefits.
According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, more than 3 million New Yorkers were enrolled in the Food Stamp Program in December 2011. However, New York State has one of the lowest Food Stamp Program participation rates in the country with just 68% of eligible individuals enrolled in 2009 according to a recent USDA report.
Based on U.S. Census data compared with NYS enrollment data, roughly 500,000 seniors in New York State may be eligible for benefits but do not receive them.
A recent report from Children’s HealthWatch, “The SNAP Vaccine”, highlights the positive impact SNAP benefits have on children. SNAP benefits improve child health by having a preventive affect on risk of being underweight or having developmental delays.
To locate your nearest NOEP provider, please visit www.FoodHelpNY.org.
The economy today has not been so kind to people. With so many struggling I am glad to see that the Governor is going to promote this program. I am sure that many people are not even aware that they might qualify. There is no reason that a senior citizen should have to decide between their medication or food or that a child should have to go hungry.
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