As SNAP Funding Approaches the November 1st Fiscal Cliff, New Yorkers Brace for Impact
More Than 66,000 Hudson Valley Residents Could be Forced to Go Hungry Without Critical Benefits
TARRYTOWN & PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK — On Thursday, in an effort to support Hudson Valley residents, Empire State Voices partnered with the Tarrytown Community Opportunity Center and the Peekskill Housing Authority to donate canned goods, nonperishables—and, of course, candy—to local families in need. As New Yorkers prepare for Halloween festivities, many families are also bracing for the impact of the November 1st fiscal cliff, when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to run out of funding.
SNAP provides critical food assistance to 2.9 million New Yorkers, but Republicans have refused to pass legislation to further fund the program. If a deal to reopen the government is not reached and no supplemental funding is allocated, more than 66,000 Hudson Valley residents could be forced to go hungry without critical benefits.
More than 66,000 Hudson Valley residents could be forced to go hungry as critical benefits dry up. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
Despite their complete control in Washington, Congressional Republicans have been unwilling to pass legislation to roll back the healthcare and food assistance cuts they made earlier this year and reopen the government. Additionally, Senate Republicans have just announced that they intend to block a Democratic bill that would keep food assistance flowing, and the Trump administration has refused to extend any contingency funding to keep the program operational. This will leave families across the country unable to put food on the table.
“At a time when parents should be enjoying the holiday with their kids, far too many are worrying about how they’re going to put food on the table come Monday,” said Dylan Wheeler, NY-17 Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “Tariffs have already sent grocery prices through the roof, and the expiration of ACA healthcare tax credits means that thousands of families across the Hudson Valley are about to see their premium costs skyrocket. Household budgets are being strained past the breaking point, and the food security of nearly 3 million New Yorkers depends on the uninterrupted distribution of SNAP benefits. Republicans are refusing to negotiate over a solution, but this isn’t something we can afford to play political games over.”
Empire State Voices is donating canned goods, nonperishables, and, of course, candy, to local families in need. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
“It’s hard out here,” said Rochelle Bonner, a resident of Peekskill. “The cost-of-living crisis has skyrocketed rent and groceries. Even Halloween candy is becoming extremely expensive and unaffordable here in the Hudson Valley. Costs have become way too high, and I don’t know how much more families like mine can take.”
“As the local food pantry here in Tarrytown, we’ve seen a large uptick in clients' needs with the potential for SNAP funding to be cut starting Saturday,” said Doris Inzar, Director of the Tarrytown Community Opportunity Center. “This has put ourselves and other pantries in the area in dire straits and in need of more food donations. Donations like this are extremely important to our food pantries as we fight the increasing cost of living crisis, and the crisis we’re facing now in this government shutdown.”
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
