Food Bank responds to a 8% spike in average monthly visits to our network of 800+ food pantries, soup kitchens, and healthcare facilities amid benefit delays as food prices soar across New York City.
NEW YORK, October 13, 2023 (Gothamist.com) —
As New York City grapples with skyrocketing food prices and the end of pre-pandemic food assistance benefits, Food Bank for New York City has been at the forefront of addressing the growing demand for hot meals and groceries across the five boroughs. Since February, we’ve experienced a 8% uptick in average monthly visits to our network of 800+ food pantries, soup kitchens, and healthcare facilities.
Here are some sobering statistics that underscore the state of benefit applications and rising food prices in New York City:
- Notably, more than half of the applications for cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were not processed on time between July of the previous year and June of the current year.
- In June, The Department of Social Services (DSS) processed only 10.7% of the 43,000 cash assistance applications were processed on time. That’s the lowest rate since 2006.
- Furthermore, the DSS processed about 30% of cash assistance applications and approximately 40% of food stamp applications within 30 days as required by state and federal laws.
- They receive an average of 40,000 cash assistance and 40,000 SNAP applications a month, nearly double the pre-pandemic levels.
- In September, food prices in the New York region rose by 3.6% compared to the previous year.
Zac Hall, senior vice president of programs at the Food Bank, shared that a delay in receiving vital benefits can force families to make tough decisions about their health in a recent interview with The Gothamist.
“Often times folks will make decisions about consuming less nutritious calorie dense foods because they’re cheaper. And that can drive epidemics of obesity and disease,” he said. “Think about seniors in their households who are making decisions on fixed income about what they can do with their money and maybe foregoing medications, maybe foregoing healthcare visits.”
Read the full story and listen to Zac’s interview with Gothamist.
Find Help Getting SNAP
If you or someone you know needs help or support getting SNAP assistance amid benefit delays, please call Food Bank’s SNAP Call Center at (212) 894-8060, Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or email us at snap@foodbanknyc.org. Our staff will help you through the process of applying, re-certifying, and Benefit Replacement for SNAP. We will submit all applications and documents directly to HRA on your behalf.