Focus on Seniors, Not Swindlers

Hunger impacts millions of people. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggle to feed themselves or their family.

In the Wall Street Journal, opinion writer James Bovard recently suggested there’s rampant fraud and abuse in the Food Stamp Program (federally named SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The National Council on Aging replied to Bovard’s accusations by pointing to the real problem: people, especially seniors, who need the benefit are not getting it.

The Food Stamp Program is our nation’s first line of defense against hunger; stretching the monthly food budgets of all who meet program guidelines. Participants use an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to buy food from local stores, bodegas and farmers’ markets.

Often, vulnerable New Yorkers are unaware of, or hesitant to apply for, nutrition assistance programs which can help them through tough times. Many others need help to successfully complete applications. This spring, Hunger Solutions New York raised awareness of this issue along with the "Tea and Toast" syndrome among vulnerable older adults.

In New York, about half of the million older adults who are income eligible for monthly food stamp benefits are enrolled. Hunger Solutions New York has a variety of outreach materials for your use among older adults in your community.

Hunger Solutions New York also manages the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). This unique model offers free and confidential services to connect hungry New Yorkers with nutrition assistance programs. NOEP is available in many counties across the state and throughout the boroughs of New York City.

NOEP’s primary focus is increasing participation in the Food Stamp Program. NOEP’s nationally recognized model is one of the largest food stamp outreach programs in the nation. Through community-based work, tens of thousands of new households each year apply for, and receive, benefits. Hunger Solutions New York trains NOEP outreach workers in the Food Stamp Program guidelines to provide confidential and accurate pre-screenings and help individuals and households through the application process.

NOEP outreach workers:
• Promote the Food Stamp Program across the state;
• Help applicants gather and copy the necessary documents;
• Offer translation services, home visits, in-person or over-the-phone assistance for applicants who need individualized help;
• Work closely with local government offices to ensure that each application is processed correctly;
• Identify and remedy barriers to Food Stamp Program participation;
• Refer households to other nutrition assistance programs and community resources; and
• Collaborate with an array of local service providers.

Connect with your local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program: www.FoodHelpNY.org.

Census data reports that of New York State's 3.6 million older adults, over a million of them were were born outside of the United States. Written language barriers may prevent many older New Yorkers from applying for benefits. Click here to find NY's food stamp applications in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Haitian/Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.