NEW YORK - Hunger in New York City is on the rise according to a study released on Jan. 2 by U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens).
Between July and October this year, 3,550,837 meals were served by city food pantries and soup kitchens—an 8 percent spike from the same period last year. Despite the rise, the city turned down an estimated $739 million in available federal anti-hunger funds this year, leaving over half a million eligible New Yorkers without food stamps.
"This is not just about inefficient government bureaucracy. This is a moral issue for all of us," said Weiner at a press conference he and other city officials held to raise awareness about the issue. "We have to do everything we can at every level of government to eliminate hunger in New York City.
According to Weiner's report, about 1 million people in New York City relied on food stamps to feed themselves and their families in Oct. 2005. Roughly 600,000, or one-third of eligible city residents, did not receive food stamps.
Advocates point to bureaucratic barriers, worse in New York than other cities, which prevent New Yorkers from receiving the federal benefits they are entitled to.
City Councilman Eric Gioia said, "As Chair of the City Council's Committee on Oversight and Investigations, I have found that much of what stands in the way of hunger relief is red tape."
Federal waivers exist to enable more of the working poor to receive food stamps, but New York has never fully authorized them. For instance, New York is one of only four states that require food stamp applicants to be fingerprinted. And the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) offices rarely allow applicants to waive face-to-face interviews—so if a poor person works during the day, then he or she may miss the opportunity to receive food stamps.
Assembly Member Felix Ortiz said, "This year I was able to add $350,000 to the state budget for emergency food programs but the city could access an additional $700 million in federal benefits. Federal food dollars support working families and seniors, create jobs in low-income communities, and help households buy more nutritious foods which prevent obesity and higher Medicaid costs."
In his report, Weiner identified a number of changes that the HRA could make to alleviate the barriers to food stamps. The city could accept federal waivers, extend business hours at the HRA field offices, and offer more over-the-phone interviews to ensure increased participation among working poor participants in New York.
Weiner also announced that he will introduce new legislation to create a federal grant program for public-private partnerships that will enable religious and community based organizations to coordinate enrollment for community members eligible for assistance.