[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO BE A REAL PROBLEM IMPACTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

LAST YEAR, ABOUT THREE MILLION HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK WERE ENROLLED IN THE SNAP BENEFIT PROGRAM.

BUFFALO, ROCHESTER AND SYRACUSE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY.

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SNAP BENEFITS WERE INCREASED TO HELP WITH THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT THOSE ADDED BENEFITS HAVE EXPIRED AND ARE NOT SLATED TO BE RENEWED AT THIS TIME.

THAT REALITY, MIXED WITH RISING INFLATION, HAS RESULTED IN CALLS FOR STATE ACTION.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW THE STATE CAN HELP, I SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

THANK YOU, SHANTEL, FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY.

YOUR BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD IMPLEMENT A STATE SNAP BENEFIT PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THAT WOULD RUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM AND REALLY BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND $95.

YOU KNOW, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE LOGISTICS OF IMPLEMENTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM ON THE STATE LEVEL?

FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

WE JUST CAME OUT OF A HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN SEPTEMBER.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS HUNGER INSECURITY IN THIS STATE AND THIS COUNTRY.

SO RECENTLY, THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT SAID THAT HUNGER WAS ON THE RISE.

ABOUT 1 IN 10 FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

IT IS REALLY CRITICAL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

RIGHT NOW, THE FEDERAL SNAP BENEFIT MINIMUM IS $23.

YOU CAN DO VERY LITTLE WITH $23 IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

A DOZEN EGGS COST ABOUT $6 RIGHT NOW.

IT IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ENSURE THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO THRIVE IN THIS STATE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MORE LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND SAFER STATE AND THIS CONTRIBUTES TO-- ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY CONTRIBUTES TO THAT.

AND HOW MUCH WOULD THIS PROGRAM COST THE STATE?

SO WHAT THE PROGRAM WOULD DO IS LOOK AT THE MINIMUM FEDERAL BENEFIT, WHICH, AGAIN, THE VERY MINIMUM IS $23 AND WOULD ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AT LEAST $95.

I ACTUALLY WILL BE AMENDING THE BILL TO MAKE IT ABOUT $100 EVEN.

BECAUSE NEW JERSEY JUST PASSED THIS BILL AND CURRENTLY HAS IT AT $95.

SO WE HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN NEW JERSEY.

WE WOULD CREATE A PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED BY THE STATE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE, WHATEVER THAT DIFFERENCE IS, SO THAT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS AT LEAST GETTING $100 A MONTH IN FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS.

THE COSTS ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED.

IN NEW JERSEY, IT'S ABOUT 38 MILLION, BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN OUR STATE.

SO WAITING ON THE FISCAL, BUT WHAT'S PROMISING IS THAT ALSO THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH SOME ANTICIPATED REVENUES THAT WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET PUT OUT.

SO THERE'S SOME PROMISING FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF REVENUE, BUT ESSENTIALLY WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, SO THIS IS CRITICAL.

IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM TO HAVE THE BENEFIT EVEN HIGHER, MORE THAN $100?

LIKE, WHERE DID $100 COME FROM?

I THINK, AGAIN, WE WERE INSPIRED BY WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW JERSEY.

IT PASSED.

IT'S IN EFFECT, AND AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT $23 IS NOT ENOUGH TO HELP ANY FAMILY.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO OVER THE NEW JERSEY AMOUNT, BUT CERTAINLY, I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE WAY THAT SNAP IS ADMINISTERED.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE FARM BILL.

RIGHT NOW, THE FARM BILL IS BEING NEGOTIATED SO THERE'S POTENTIAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT THINGS MIGHT BE ADJUSTED BUT I'M NOT HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE FED.

IT'S GOOD FOR GETTING FOLKS OUT OF POVERTY AND GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE COMPTROLLER CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT REALLY UNDERSCORED HOW MUCH FOOD INSECURITY IS IMPACTING THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT DEFINITELY ISN'T A NEW ISSUE, RIGHT, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME YEARS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.

SO WHY IS IT THAT THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY, WITH YOUR BILL, BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STATE IS IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM TO THIS MAGNITUDE?

WE'VE LONG STRUGGLED WITH HUNGER IN THIS STATE, AND COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTED HOW -- HOW FOLKS WERE SUFFERING.

I REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, EAST ELMHURST, CORONA, WOODSIDE, ASTORIA.

THE EPICENTER OF THE PANDEMIC, AND I VOLUNTEERED AT FOOD PANTRIES, AND I SAW THE LINES THAT WERE WRAPPED AROUND BLOCKS AND HOW IT DIRECTLY IMPACTED FAMILIES WHO WERE DESPERATELY IN NEED FOR FOOD.

SO AS AN ISSUE, IT'S SO CRITICAL FOR ME TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE WELL FED.

NOW THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE A COUPLE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPLEMENTED SNAP AND SUPPLEMENTED CASH ASSISTANCE TO FAMILY.

THERE WAS THE PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM.

THERE WAS SUPPLEMENTAL WIC AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS PUT INTO SNAP.

THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE GONE AWAY OR WILL GO AWAY.

THE WIC PROGRAM IS GOING AWAY THIS MONTH IN OCTOBER.

SO WE'RE SEEING HOW THAT ACTUALLY HELPED PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, HELPED PEOPLE GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THAT THE FUNDING IS GOING AWAY, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE AFLOAT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, FAMILIES ARE FED.

THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS REGARDING SNAP.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT SOMEONE SPENDS USING SNAP, THERE'S ABOUT 61 TO 81 ADDITIONAL CENTS THAT GO INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOR EVERY MEAL THAT'S PROVIDED BY FOOD PANTRY, YOU CAN BUY 12 MEALS THROUGH THE SNAP PROGRAM.

SO IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE TO PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, FAMILIES ARE FED.

IT'S NOT JUST A HEALTH ISSUE.

IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUE AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY AND STATE TO HAVE FOLKS BE ABLE TO BUY THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN WAYS THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND IN WAYS THEY CAN MAKE THE CHOICE FOR THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO IT.

AGAIN, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK THIS IS A SMART INVESTMENT BY THE STATE.

YEAH.

AND LOOKING AHEAD AT NEXT SESSION, WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY OF GETTING THIS BILL OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE NEXT SESSION?

WELL, THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I'M SO THRILLED THAT SENATOR MAY, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE RURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, AN UPSTATE SENATOR, HAS TAKEN ON THE BILL IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY ISSUES.

SO I'M REAL EXCITED TO HAVE A PARTNER IN SENATOR MAY ON THIS ISSUE, AND YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING BOTH WITH ADVOCATES, WITH LEGISLATORS, WITH PEOPLE IN NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE RAISING THE VOICES AROUND THE NEED OF THIS ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN ADEQUATELY PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND DOLLARS IN THE SNAP PROGRAM THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF ADVOCACY, BUT I'M AN ADVOCATE SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK ACROSS PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES ARE FED.

YEAH.

IN TERMS OF SUPPORT OF THE BILL, WHAT ARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE AND YOU KNOW, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ABOUT BRINGING THE BILL TO THE FLOOR?

WE'RE NOW OUT OF SESSION.

SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO START BUILDING COSPONSORS FOR THE BILL.

AGAIN, I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT WE HAVE A SENATE SPONSOR.

SO WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES BUT CERTAINLY, FOOD INSECURITY, HUNGER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OUR CONFERENCE.

WE JUST PASSED A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

NOT AS FULLY UNIVERSAL AS I HOPE.

WE HAVE EXPANDED UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR CHILDREN, ABOUT 81% OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S A HISTORIC INVESTMENT AND ONE SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING THE FOOD CRISIS HERE IN NEW YORK.

WE ALSO HAVE ABUNDANT FARMS AND THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FARMERS AS WELL AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRIORITIES AND INVESTMENT IN THOSE-- IN THE FARMERS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE CARE OF THE BREAD BASKET OF AMERICA, WHICH IS NEW YORK.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED IN THIS ROLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WIN-WIN HERE IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE A PRIORITY FOR OUR CONFERENCE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUILDING UP THE CONVERSATION ON THIS ISSUE, BUILDING UP SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIPS AND WORKING WITH THE ADVOCATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE IN NEED CENTRAL IN THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.

I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA TRY VERY HARD TO GET IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPACT ON, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S ISSUE WITH FOOD INSECURITY IF THE BILL DOES NOT GET PASSED?

WELL, IF THE BILL DOES NOT GET PASSED, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS IF THEY'RE GIVEN THE MINIMUM SNAP BENEFIT.

THAT IS VERY LITTLE TO SURVIVE IN A MONTH.

AGAIN, $23, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT AND PEOPLE HAVE MADE DO, BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AGAIN, IT GETS FOLKS OUT OF POVERTY.

IT MAY HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES, BE ABLE TO WORK AND EXCEL ACADEMICALLY.

SO FOOD IS SO CONNECTED TO THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR LIVES.

SO WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN AS A STATE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ENOUGH QUALITY FOOD AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THE WORKFORCE AND KEEP THEIR FAMILIES HERE IN NEW YORK.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING FIGHT AND I'M REALLY UP FOR IT.

YEAH.

IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS BILL, ARE THERE ANY CONCESSIONS THAT YOU'RE KIND OF KNEELING OVER THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER TO GET IT OVERPASSED?

WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT CONCESSIONS YET.

AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY A NEIGHBORING STATE, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS-- NEW YORK ALWAYS SHOULD BE LEADING.

SO WE WANT TO, AGAIN, BE A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE.

IT HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY FOR ADMINISTRATION.

I HAVE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REGARDING FOOD SECURITY ISSUES AT LARGE SO THEY KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY.

WE HAVE REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INVEST IN LIKE NOURISH NEW YORK, THE GREAT EXPANSION OF FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR CHILDREN.

THIS WOULD BE A SUPPLEMENT TO ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, OUR FAMILIES ARE FED AND OUR ECONOMY'S GOING.

AND WHAT ABOUT FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS?

IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR THE STATE TO OFFER EVEN MORE SUPPORT?

YEAH.

FOOD PANTRIES ARE SUCH A GREAT PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

BUT AGAIN, SNAP IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, FOR EVERY MEAL PROVIDED BY A FOOD PANTRY, YOU CAN GET 12 MEALS THROUGH SNAP.

BUT CERTAINLY, THE FOOD PANTRIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL.

AND IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE WORK IN TANDEM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE FULL SCOPE OF HUNGER IN NEW YORK STATE.

YEAH.

WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOOD INSECURITY IS DEFINITELY A VERY REAL AND IMPORTANT PROBLEM AFFECTING THE STATE, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK HERE IN ALBANY TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD AND POTENTIALLY HAVE THE BILL PASSED.

SO OF COURSE, WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU BACK ON THE SHOW NEXT SESSION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE BILL HERE ON THE SHOW AND ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

ALONG WITH SNAP BENEFITS, ANOTHER ASPECT OF FOOD INSECURITY INVOLVES FOOD PANTRIES WHO PROVIDE ACCESS TO GROCERIES.

THE PANTRIES RELY HEAVILY ON FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO STAY OPEN.

HERE IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT, ABOUT 69,000 PEOPLE USE FOOD PANTRIES JUST LAST YEAR.

NOW, SEVERAL PANTRIES ARE CALLING ON THE STATE FOR MORE FUNDING.

TO UNPACK THAT, I SPOKE WITH NATASHA PERNICKA, WHO SERVES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT AND THE ALLIANCE FOR A HUNGER-FREE NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, NATASHA.

THANK YOU, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

OF COURSE, YOU'VE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL REGION AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALLIANCE FOR HUNGER FOR NEW YORK FOR SOME TIME.

SO I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT WHAT TRENDS OR EVEN SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE WAY FOOD INSECURITY IS IMPACTING THE STATE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SURE.

I APPRECIATE THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE I'VE BEEN DOING ANTI-HUNGER WORK, AND THERE'S BEEN A HUGE SHIFT IN ESPECIALLY THE EMERGENCY FEEDING SYSTEM OR CHARITABLE FEEDING SYSTEM.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED 12 YEARS AGO, WE KIND OF HAD THIS GET WHAT YOU GET MENTALITY.

WE HAD A LOT OF STIGMA ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO USE FOOD PANTRY ASSISTANCE, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH OR PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO MULTIPLE FOOD PANTRIES, AND WE HAVE HAD A HUGE SHIFT IN THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT REALLY, HUNGER IN AMERICA IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

IT'S NOT DEFAULT OF CHARACTER OR PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING HARD ENOUGH.

WE SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS AND STILL DON'T HAVE THE INCOME TO AFFORD THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

SO YOU KNOW, AGAIN, 12 YEARS AGO, THE FOOD SYSTEM WAS VERY MUCH LIKE, HERE'S YOUR FOOD.

HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVE.

YOU CAN EAT THIS.

AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED, MOST OF THE FOOD PANTRIES DIDN'T CARRY FRESH PRODUCE.

HOWEVER, AT THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT, WE DID A CONSUMER SURVEY OF PEOPLE WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM FOOD PANTRIES AND WE FOUND PEOPLE WANT FRESH PRODUCE.

THEY WANT MEAT.

THEY WANT DAIRY.

THOSE FRESH ITEMS THAT TYPICALLY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING FOR FOOD PANTRIES TO CARRY BECAUSE FOOD PANTRIES A LOT OF TIMES ARE SMALL AND HAVE LIMITED REFRIGERATION SPACE.

NOW, 12 YEARS LATER, MOST OF THE 70 PANTRIES THAT WE WORK WITH HERE IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT ARE PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE.

FOOD PANTRIES ARE ALSO WORKING ON HEALTHIER FOOD AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE COME TO THE POINT WHERE NOW IT'S MORE ABOUT RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH FOODS THAT THEY'RE MORE FAMILIAR TO EAT.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

THERE'S A NEED -- THERE'S A NEED FOR A LOT MORE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THAT DIGNITY ASPECT, BUT THE VALUES ARE THERE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE EVEN GO TO MULTIPLE FOOD PANTRIES TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET BECAUSE THE THEIR RESOURCES, PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

IN TERMS OF SUPPORT NEEDED, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN THE STATE DO OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OR HELP TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE?

WE-- WE IN NEW YORK STATE HAVE A STATE THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO BECOME MORE AWARE OF WHAT THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS.

THOSE TERMS HAVE BEEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY AND FOOD BANKS ARE ACTUALLY LIKE THE LARGE WAREHOUSES THAT THE FEDERAL FOODS COME THROUGH.

THE FOOD PANTRIES, YOU CAN KIND OF THINK OF AS THE RETAILERS.

THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GO WHEN THEY NEED FOOD.

THEY GO TO THE FOOD PANTRY AND A MAJORITY OF THE FOOD THAT PANTRIES DISTRIBUTE COME FROM FOOD BANKS, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT PANTRIES ACTUALLY PAY FOR MOST OF THE MONEY-- EXCUSE ME, PANTRIES ACTUALLY PAY FOR MOST OF THE FOOD THAT THEY ACQUIRE FROM FOOD BANKS SO WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHY DO FOOD PANTRIES NEED FUNDING NOT JUST FOOD DRIVES.

JUST HERE IN NEW YORK'S CAPITAL REGION, PANTRIES THAT WORK WITH US SERVE MORE THAN 70,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

ENOUGH FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED FOR MORE THAN THREE MILLION MEALS.

SO THAT TAKES DOLLARS WHILE FOOD DRIVES ARE GREAT, THEY HELP SUPPLEMENT THE SUPPLY CHAIN AVAILABLE AT THE FOOD BANK.

WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT DOING THIS WITH FOOD DRIVES ALONE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING THAT SUPPORT THE FOOD PANTRY SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE FARM BILL AND USDA PROVIDES THE USDA FOOD, WHEN WE THINK OF FOOD PANTRIES MIGHT THINK OF THE GOVERNMENT CHEESE AND CANNED CHICKEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT FOOD'S AVAILABLE FOR FREE THROUGH THE FOOD BANKING SYSTEM.

BUT THE OTHER FOOD THAT'S NEEDED, WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT IN NEW YORK STATE THE STATE HAS TWO PROGRAMS.

ONE IS THE HUNGER PREVENTION NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE OTHER PROGRAM IS NOURISH NEW YORK THAT WAS LAUNCHED DURING THE COVID CRISIS, WHICH IS THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF AG AND HELPS FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS PURCHASE FOOD FROM NEW YORK PRODUCERS, WHICH IS A GREAT WIN-WIN BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE THINGS ARE FRESH PRODUCT AS WELL, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND DAIRY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE STATE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT NOURISH NEW YORK AND HUNGER PREVENTION NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR WHAT WE CALL HPNAP, WERE BOTH FLAT FUNDED IN THE BUDGET THIS PAST YEAR.

AND WITH INFLATION, IN PARTICULAR, FOOD INFLATION IS UP 10, 12% BASED ON THE SPECIFIC FOOD PRODUCTS SO WITH THAT FLAT FUNDING, WE'RE ACTUALLY OPERATING AT AN $8 MILLION NET LOSS.

SO YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, WELL, IT WAS FLAT-FUNDED BUT WITH INFLATION, IT'S ACTUALLY A LOSS AND AT THE SAME TIME, FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE HAVING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SERVICE LEVELS.

SO IT'S LIKE THE SNOWBALL EFFECT OF THE FEDERAL SUPPORTS FOR COVID ENDING THE CHILD TAX CREDITS, THE SNAP EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS ENDED.

SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAD THESE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS DIMINISHED WHILE INFLATION WAS HAPPENING.

SO NOT ONLY IS INFLATION HAPPENING AT THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD LEVEL, IT'S ALSO IMPACTING FOOD PANTRIES AND THEIR DOLLARS AREN'T GOING AS FAR EITHER.

REALLY, WE'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE STATE RIGHT NOW TO SAY THIS IS A CRISIS.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE LONG LINES OF THE MASS DISTRIBUTIONS OF COVID, BUT WE ARE SEEING INCREASES ACROSS THE STATE.

I SAW THAT THE COALITION WAS ASKING FOR $43.5 MILLION IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO HELP SUPPORT FOOD PANTRIES AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY FOOD PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND SPECIFICALLY YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH ADVOCATES AND STATE LEGISLATORS ON THIS ASK?

YEAH.

I MEAN, I HAVE TO SAY WHILE THE STATE AGENCIES ARE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO MOVE CLOSER TO ALIGNING THEIR OWN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ENDING HUNGER ACROSS NEW YORK, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST NOT TAKEN ACTION AND IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

AT THIS TIME, MORE THAN EVER, AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR OVER A DECADE.

WE HAVE PANTRY COORDINATORS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR OVER A DECADE SAYING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF DEMAND AT FOOD PANTRIES EVER, AND 30% OF THE PANTRIES IN OUR COALITION LOCALLY SAY THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE ALLIANCE FOR A HUNGER-FREE NEW YORK HAS BEEN TALKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO -- TO THE LEGISLATORS TELLING THEM AND SHARING STATISTICS AND SHARING STORIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND AS I MENTIONED, THE CURRENT FUNDING THAT THE STATE ALLOCATED THIS YEAR WAS FLAT-FUNDED, WHICH MEANS IT'S ACTUALLY AN $8 MILLION LOSS.

SO PANTRIES ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS.

SO WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT PANTRIES DON'T HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ASKING FOR UNALLOCATED FUNDS ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN TWO MILLION NEW YORKERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

WE THINK THAT FOOD SHOULD BE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND NEW YORKERS AGREE.

IN FACT, WHEN WE HAD SIENNA COLLEGE POLL NEW YORK CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE, 96% OF NEW YORKERS BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS GOING WITHOUT.

SO WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AT A LOCAL LEVEL TO FOOD PANTRIES, THE ONES WHO ARE ON THE GROUND WHO CAN PROVIDE THE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD THAT PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE-- TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE'S A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TYPES OF FOOD THAT PEOPLE EAT, WHETHER IT'S AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S RURAL, SUBURBAN, ACROSS NEW YORK, WE'RE DEALING WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS.

THE FOOD PANTRIES IN THE COMMUNITIES KNOW EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF FOOD THAT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY NEED, AND SO THE POWER, BY PUTTING THE MONEY INTO THE LOCAL HANDS, THEY CAN ADDRESS THE NEEDS IN A MORE DIGNIFIED MANNER.

APART FROM FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES, I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON SNAP BENEFITS.

QUEENS ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALES-ROJAS HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A BILL THAT WOULD WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM.

IT WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STATE SNAP BENEFITS TO EACH HOUSEHOLD AND BASICALLY, INCREASE THE OVERALL SNAP BENEFIT THAT A HOUSEHOLD GETS PER MONTH.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS BILL.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT?

HOW WOULD IT IMPACT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON A DAY TO DAY?

YES.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY CRITICAL BILL.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENDING HUNGER, NO ONE IS FOR EVERYONE WHO IS WORKING TO HAVE LIVING WAGES.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO IS STRONG FEDERAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND OF THE FEDERAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SNAP IS BY FAR ONE OF THE STRONGEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS.

SNAP OR WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS PROVIDE PEOPLE RESOURCES TO BUY FOOD IN A DIGNIFIED WAY AT A GROCERY STORE.

THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES AND BUY THE FOOD THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH AND USED TO EATING TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND HOUSEHOLD NEEDS.

AND SINCE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY SNAP ALLOCATIONS ENDED, WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE TURN TO FOOD PANTRIES WHO NEVER HAD TO BEFORE.

THE OTHER THING THAT I DID WANT TO MENTION ABOUT HUNGER IN NEW YORK STATE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS THERE IS SOME REALLY ASTOUNDING NUMBERS RELEASED IN JULY FROM THE U.S. CENSUS HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY.

WE KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS DISPARATELY HARMED NEW YORKERS.

WHEN YOU COMPARE JULY FROM 2021 TO 2023 IN THE PULSE SURVEY, WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR A ONE-WEEK PERIOD, 87% OF NEW YORKERS WHO ANSWERED SAID NO, THEY DID NOT.

87% MORE THAN IN 2021 SAID NO.

I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD IN A ONE-WEEK PERIOD, AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO 35% MORE NATIONWIDE WHO SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.

SO NEW YORKERS ARE DISPARATELY HARMED MORE THAN PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THAT IS WHERE THE STATE REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND AT THIS POINT, BASED ON THE DATA, THE STATISTICS AND THE STORIES, AT THIS POINT, I VIEW THE STATE AS BEING NEGLECT IN THEIR DUTY TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS COVERED IN NEW YORK.

WELL, THERE'S A LOT HERE AND WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO CHECK IN ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY NOW AND DURING THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

NATASHA PERNICKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD PANTRIES OF THE CAPITAL REGION AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALLIANCE FOR HUNGER FREE NEW YORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AS NATASHA UNDERSCORED, FOOD PANTRIES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS THE STATE, AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EPISODE OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET AND BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

[ THEME MUSIC ]