Hunger Solutions New York Applauds Governor Cuomo for Food Stamp Program Initiative in State Budget Proposal

Albany, NY -- Governor Andrew Cuomo stated his commitment to make sure that no child in New York goes to bed hungry in his annual State of the State address earlier this month. In addition, he made a commitment to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program. Today, he followed through on this commitment by increasing the state's investment in food stamp outreach in his FY 2012-2013 budget proposal.

"We commend Governor Cuomo for his increased investment in food stamp outreach and we are eager to work with him to achieve his goal," 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 governor's budget which will enable the food stamp outreach program to nearly double its efforts across New York State.

Click here to read our full press release.

Click here to learn more about governor Cuomo's budget proposal.

Governor Cuomo Promises to Expand Food Stamp Outreach, End Child Hunger in New York State

In Governor Andrew Cuomo's annual State of the State address today, he made particular note of child hunger across the state, expanding food stamp outreach and ending finger imaging requirements for applicants. Here is the quote directly from his statement made to more than 2,000 people in Albany:

No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry in New York

For all of our progress, there are still basic wrongs to right.
There is never an excuse for letting any child in New York go
to bed hungry. Statewide, 1 in 6 children live in homes
without enough food on the table. Yet 30 percent of New
Yorkers eligible for food stamps — over 1.4 million people —
do not receive them, leaving over $1 billion in federal funds
unclaimed every year. We must increase participation in the
food stamp program, remove barriers to participation, and
eliminate the stigma associated with this program. And we
must stop fingerprinting for food. No child should go hungry
in the great State of New York and we will do all that we can
to prevent it.

Hunger Solutions New York manages on of the country's largest food stamp outreach programs in the nation. The state and federally funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), present in only 36 counties, helps 25,000 households enroll in the Food Stamp Program annually. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo on his goal of expanding enrollment in the Food Stamp Program to all who are eligible.

Read the full address here.