NYCCAH Front Page

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger graces the cover of the April 1st edition of The Nonprofit Times Magazine. The cover article discusses the growing use of technology in the nonprofit world. It highlights organizations, like NYCCAH, which "have truly championed technology and used it to grow their organizations." The article specifically touches on the Coalition's website and innovative mapping technology, as well as - the Hunger Blog. JC Dwyer, NYCCAH's Director of Programs and National Service, headed the pioneering mapping project. The website is designed and maintained by the excellent Dave Hsia, the Coalition's Development and Technology VISTA.

Increased Food Quality?

New York might be on its way to getting its first statewide Food Policy Council, as reported today by the Daily Intelligencer. The Council would be in charge of coordinating sustainable-food efforts and community-supported agriculture efforts that would bring local and organic produce into lower-income shops, such as bodegas. Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Joel Berg, had a somewhat skeptical response, "The question is, is it just going to be a food-quality and local-food focus, or is it going to have a key anti-poverty focus?I hope this really doesn't end up a yuppie thing."

Mayor Announces New Anti-Poverty Pilot Program

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a new anti-poverty pilot program that will award poor families up to $5,000 a year for taking such steps as visiting the dentist, attending parent-teacher conferences, or having a child with perfect school attendance. The program will track the progress of the 2,500 randomly selected families against 2,500 other randomly selected families not receiving rewards.

Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, had this to say about the program, "It's certainly good to experiment with new efforts such as this. However, it is important to keep in mind that the 2,500 people to be impacted represent less than two-tenths of one percent of the 1.7 million New Yorkers in poverty. We also need far bolder efforts to create large numbers of living wage jobs and make food, health care, housing, and child care, more affordable for low-income New Yorkers."

NYCCAH Featured

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger is featured in the Foundation Center's Philanthropy News Digest. As this week's NPO (Non-Profit Organization) Spotlight, NYCCAH's mission, programs, and website are briefly described and highlighted.

How to Solve NYC's Growing Hunger Problem

Yesterday, NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg testified before the New York City Council Hearing on the Budget of the Human Resources Administration (HRA). HRA is the city department tasked with getting valuable federal benefits like food stamps to needy New Yorkers, and is a key partner in ending hunger in NYC. Read Berg's testimony here.

Welfare at 43-year low

According to an article in the Daily News, city officials reported yesterday that the number of New Yorkers on Welfare hit a 43-year low last month. While some city officials are attempting to credit the drop to the Bloomberg adminstration, poverty experts look to other telling statistics for an explanation. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger, was quoted as saying, "We are moving far more people from welfare to the streets." Just last month, the Coalition for the Homeless reported that the average number of families entering shelters reached an all-time high of 9,287.

Assembly Proposes Even Larger Funding Hike for Feeding Charities

The New York State Assembly just passed a bill that proposes $2 million more than Governor Eliot Spitzer's previously proposed increase to the funding for New York State's more than 2,000 soup kitchens and food pantries. The Coalition Against Hunger issued a press release on the Assembly's very welcome, proposed increase to the State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP).

As with Mayor Bloomberg's plan to boost New York City residents' participation in the Food Stamp program, his plan to decrease the number of homeless families has also floundered and hit a wall. The Coalition for the Homeless released its eighth-annual "State of the Homeless" report. As part of its assessment, the report analyzes Mayor Bloomberg's five-year homeless plan at its midpoint and proposes reforms that would achieve the plan's goals. Instead of decreasing the number of homeless families from 8,850 at the plan's inception on August 2004 to the projected 7,400 by this point, the number of homeless families has increased to last month's record total of 9,287. The report attributes the rise in homeless families mostly to the City's flawed Housing Stability Plus program (HSP), which is meant to move families into permanent housing by providing them declining rent subsidies. The report found that the number of homeless families moved to permanent housing fell by 11% last year, and that HSP moved fewer families in its second year than in its first.

2 out of 3...

The New York Nonprofit Press published an article in its March issue outlining the budgets of Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Spitzer, and President Bush, and also nonprofit, human service provider advocates' subsequent reactions to these budget proposals. Advocates responded fairly well to the proposals of Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer, acknowledging that they will still need to ask for more. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, was quoted as saying, "We are delighted. Governor Spitzer is leading with both his head and his heart. We hope the legislature provides at least as much funding as he proposed."

President Bush's budget was not so well received; in fact, it was bashed by advocates on all sides. The Coalition on Human Needs characterized it as "Less Help for People in Need; Needless Help for Those with High Incomes." NYCCAH's Joel Berg commented, "For the second year in a row, President Bush's budget has proposed eliminating the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program. That would take food away from about 400,000 low-income seniors and children nationwide, including approximately 35,000 in New York State." Berg also criticized the President's proposed changes to federally-funded programs that would have dire effects on the Food Stamp program among others.

Food Deserts

CNN recently released a video report entitled "Urban Food Deserts" on the lack of quality food choices in some urban areas, most often in low-income neighborhoods. The video addresses this problem as it pertains to residents of Chicago; however, it applies to many urban areas, New York City included. This past fall, NYCCAH published a report and interactive mapping study on the lack of access to nutritious food in the low-income neighborhoods of New York.

Few Take Advantage of the Food Stamp Program

As many as 700, 000 people are eligible for food stamps in New York City, yet very few have applied. According to a recent FoodChange study covered by the Brooklyn Heights Courier, over one quarter of those who are entitled to but do not receive food stamps are immigrants. Many immigrants are afraid that application for food stamps may somehow endanger their immigration status, even though their status information cannot be shared with the immigration office. Low participation in the Food Stamp program can also be widely attributed to the current application process, which continues to be daunting, confusing, and overly complicated.

Advocates confront Sec. Johanns at Annual Conference

A special post from NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg:

Last year, at an annual anti-hunger conference in DC, I asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns (a member of President's Bush cabinet) why the President was supporting ever-more tax cuts for the mega-rich while poverty and hunger in America soared. He responded that I didn't understand economics and that tax cuts fueled economic growth so much that they reduced the deficit.

But most interestingly, when USDA released the transcript of the exchange to the media, my comments were mis-transcribed in a way that may have given the impression that I supported the Bush tax cuts. Given that I talk fast and was not using a microphone, it is possible that the mis-transcription was an honest mistake on the part of the transcription service hired by USDA.

At this year's conference, I tried a different tact, attempting to ask Johanns a question which I guessed (correctly, as it turns out) that he wouldn't really be able to answer.

Some background: in New York State and three other large states (Texas, California, and Arizona), people have to be finger-printed in order to obtain food stamps. In other words, people are treated like criminals for the crime of being poor.

It is not coincidental that people never have to be finger-printed to obtain other types of USDA aid that goes to less poor (and sometimes even rich) people such as farm subsidies, money to ranchers for conservation programs, and payments to rural businesspeople. Given that those other programs have plenty of fraud, the double-standard for food stamps proves that finger-printing food stamps applicants is more about dehumanizing poor people than it is about a legitimate attempt to reduce fraud equally in all government programs.

So a few days ago at the same annual conference, after Johanns spoke, I rushed to the microphone to ask him the following question:

"Would you support finger-printing farmers, ranchers, and rural businesspeople in order for them to obtain USDA benefits? Assuming that your answer is 'no,' would you support ending the practice in which people are finger-printed in order to get food stamps, especially considering that the other benefits can be hundreds of thousands of dollars and food stamps equal only about one dollar per meal?"

Johanns was obviously at a loss for a response, and it seemed as though he didn't even know that people were finger-printed to get food stamps, even though the Food Stamp program constitutes more than a third of his entire budget, and even though the issue of finger-printing food stamps applicants has been a big political issue and media issue in New York, California, and elsewhere.

He said that, of course, I was correct that he wouldn't support finger-printing farmers, ranchers, and rural businesspeople, and that he would "look into" whether food stamp applicants should be finger-printed. It spoke volumes that the Secretary wasn't even familiar with the issue.

A USDA budget staffer traveling with him was mad at me that that I even made the comparison, saying the programs were entirely different. I responded that his reaction was exactly the point: USDA gets mad at even the notion that you'd treat generally higher-income program users (the vast majority of whom rural and white) as badly as you'd treat low-income food stamps applicants (many of whom are urban and non-white).

I must say I still have a bit of a glow about me having had the rare opportunity to challenge a high-ranking Bush official in a public forum.

Other conference participants also let Johanns have it. They slammed the Administration's proposal to entirely eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which gives extra food to hundreds of thousands of low-income senior citizens. They opposed the President's plans to slash food stamps and make it more difficult for food banks to distribute commodities. But this year, the official USDA transcript of Johann's remarks entirely omitted the question and answer session.

I don't know which is worse: Mis-transcribing the criticisms last year or entirely leaving them off this year.

A New Campaign for Food Aid

City Limits has published an article summarizing all the positive new developments in NYC over the past few months focused on getting more eligible New Yorkers the food stamps they need. Programs profiled in the article include NYCCAH's groundbreaking effort with FoodChange and HRA to allow food stamps applications to be submitted electronically from local soup kitchens and food pantries.

State of the City

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn delivered the State of the City address yesterday. Among other proposals, Quinn called for a renters tax break that would provide a $300 credit for working families and for a law to ensure apartments are maintained in "livable" conditions.

Mayor's Preliminary FY 2007 Management Report Released

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg released his Preliminary Management Report for the Fiscal Year 2007. The report places the "updated goal" for food stamp participation in fiscal year 2007 at 1, 171,100 - the same number predicted for fiscal year 2006 and also for the future fiscal year, 2008. The report did state that the Human Resources Administration "is experimenting with community partners to complete and submit Food Stamp applications electronically. HRA will expand the hours of operation at certain offices to evaluate the demand for additional evening hours, and has developed a new brochure on food stamps. HRA is also taking steps to simplify the recertification process and increase the use of automation for processing applications."

Interview With New HRA Commissioner

The newly-appointed HRA commissioner, Robert Doar, is interviewed in this week's City Limits publication. In the interview, Doar states that his number one priority is enabling people to obtain better access to "publicly funded programs that can help low-income workers move up and have greater resources and feel as if they are making it." In response to a question about possible food stamp moves, Doar talks positively about his project with FoodChange to increase access outside of offices, but also remarks on the limits to the program due to income standards and federal rules.

NYCCAH's Petra Bebas Interviewed

NYCCAH Volunteer Management VISTA, Petra Bebas, was featured in an interview in The Epoch Times. The article honors Petra for her dedication to volunteering and for her efforts in the fight against hunger.

Doar Appointed HRA Commissioner

Mayor Bloomberg has appointed Robert Doar as Administrator and Commissioner of the Human Resources Administration and Department of Social Services (HRA/DDS). The New York Nonprofit Press reported today that local social service providers greeted the appointment positively, though with some reservations. NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg was quoted as saying, "Anti-hunger advocates are particularly thankful that, in his tenure with the State, Commissioner Doar helped increase statewide access to the Food Stamp Program, reinforcing the vital message that food stamp benefits provide work support that enable people to move towards economic independence."

City Health - Better or Not?

The New York City government recently released the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics, which showed an almost five month increase in the life expectancy of New Yorkers. Although it seems that city health has improved on a whole, the Community Health Profiles, which compare specific communities to the boroughs and to the overall city, show that neighborhoods with low income and lack of resources still face large health challenges and have the highest rates of preventable illnesses. Smoking may be down citywide, but presently 20 percent – one fifth - of all New Yorkers are obese. In neighborhoods in East Harlem and East New York, about three in 10 adults, or 30 percent, are obese. Obesity is linked to other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes – currently one in eight New Yorkers has diabetes.

Governor's Budget Draws Praise

NYCCAH wasn't the only organization heralding the human services budget released by Governor Spitzer on Wednesday. According to the New York Nonprofit Press, advocates from across the state are praising the modest increases to programs benefiting low-income families put forward by the new administration.

Queens Councilman Wants to Cut Red Tape

City Councilman Eric Gioia is on a quest to get Queens residents the food stamps and school breakfasts they need. The Queens Gazette reports that Gioia has put under-participation in these federal programs on the radar of local community boards, and wants to push for further innovations in outreach and application procedures. Said Gioia, "If you apply online, you don't have to wait in line."

Spitzer Proposes 24% Increase in Emergency Food Funds

Advocates praised Gov. Spitzer today for proposing a long-overdue increase in the HPNAP program, the only New York State government funding source for soup kitchens and food pantries.

If adopted by the Legislature, Governor Spitzer’s proposal would raise funding by $5.5 million, from the level of $22.84 million proposed last year by then-Governor George Pataki to a new level of $28.34 million. This elevation would provide HPNAP with $3.9 million (13%) more than the peak level of program funding of five years ago.

City Makes Local Produce Available in Bodegas

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets reported a new initiative benefiting both low-income communities and businesses yesterday. The initiative, an extension of the NYC Department of Health's "Move to Fruits and Vegetables" campaign, will place locally grown apples and carrots in neighborhood bodegas (corner stores) to both support local farmers and provide a real choice to neighborhood children and others looking for healthy snacks.

Tackling Poverty: The Bloomberg Plan

Two online videos, made available today from the Channel 13/PBS series "New York Voices", provided a relatively balanced discussion of Mayor Bloomberg's anti-poverty plan. The show included NYCCAH's praise for the plan, as well as concern that the plan has too little funding and may be too focused on blaming poor people for their supposedly irresponsible behavior.

Seeking to Help Those Without Enough Food

The New York Times printed a letter today from NYCCAH colleague Aine Duggan of the Food Bank for New York City. Duggan called for an increase in the government funding of emergency food providers commensurate with NYC's growing need, and an increase in participation in the federal Food Stamps Program.

Finger-Printing the Poor?

The New York Post reported today that Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes is advising Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to begin finger-printing Medicaid applicants in order to "deter fraud." New York is currently one of only four states that fingerprint applicants for food stamps, despite numerous studies showing it costs much more than it's worth.

If District Attorney Hynes thinks it’s “perfectly appropriate” to finger-print people who get public money, then why not finger-print every homeowner who gets a mortgage tax-reduction? Why not finger-print all the employees at Goldman Sachs for the money their company received to stay downtown? Finger-printing is not just intrusive and demeaning – this wasteful process costs far more than it ever saves in fraud reduction.

Report: Help Immigrants Stamp Out Hunger

Yesterday members of the anti-hunger group FoodChange released the results of a 2006 report on immigrant access to food stamps in Queens, according to the Queens Ledger and Queens Tribune. They were joined by City councilmembers John Liu and Eric Gioia, as well as Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Stated Gioia, "Sometimes in the council we deal with problems that are so complex that we have no idea where to begin. That's not the case with this issue. We know the solution, and we can end hunger in New York."

City Hires Coordinator of Food Policy

The New York Times confirmed this weekend that Benjamin Thomases has been hired as the new Food Policy Coordinator for New York City. Thomases's position will involve the coordination of a new task force aimed at increasing access to nutritious food, in particular among low-income New Yorkers. Thomases previously worked for the Fifth Ave. Committee, a Brooklyn-based non-profit that focuses on economic and social justice.

Squidoo Hearts NYCCAH

The Coalition Against Hunger was pleased to learn today that our website has been selected from a universe of contenders as one of Squidoo's 59 Smartest Orgs Online! NYCCAH appears to be one of the only local (i.e. not national, or international) non-profits to receive this honor. Support NYCCAH now - sign up and vote for us as your favorite!

Bloomberg's State-of-the-City a Mixed Bag for Low-Income New Yorkers

Like many of Mayor Bloomberg's speeches over the last few year’s that touched upon poverty issues, yesterday's State of the City Address (full text can be found here) included a mix of hopeful advances; ambitious and important goals coupled with meager resources to achieve them; troubling omissions; and claims about the supposed success of welfare reform at are misleading at best.

Hopeful Advances

The Mayor indicated that the City will send “tax forms to about 120,000 households who were eligible for City, State and Federal Earned Income Tax Credits in 2003 and 2004 but who never claimed them.” He added -

“The average household is due well over $1,000 - and some are owed considerably more. We're so determined to help New Yorkers get that money that we've already done the math on their tax forms! Now they will simply have to sign the forms, mail them in and get ready to receive money they've already earned. For working families with children, that money is going to make a huge difference in helping them get ahead and it's money that will be spent in their local communities, thereby helping local businesses, as well. By the way, this will generate more in sales tax revenue for the city than our share of the EITC expense.”

NYCCAH's Take: Such expanded EITC outreach is wonderful news, and could put tens of millions of extra dollars into the pockets low-income working New Yorkers.

The Mayor also announced -

“When it comes to improving the odds for poor mothers and infants, it's hard to beat our Nurse Family Partnership program. Through one-on-one nurturing and guidance, NFP helps first-time mothers build stronger futures for themselves and their children. And by this September, we'll have expanded this proven program by more than 50%. Because of its track record of success, I'm a big believer in NFP. … As the NFP shows, improving public health is key to reducing poverty.”

NYCCAH's Take: The Mayor is certainly right about the link between health and poverty, and he should be strongly commended for his strong support of public health measures.

Disconnect Between Goals and Resources

"Still... nearly one in five New Yorkers - many of whom set the alarm clock and punch the time clock every working day - live below the Federal poverty line. Last fall, our Commission for Economic Opportunity presented a realistic, cost-effective roadmap to help thousands of poor New Yorkers help themselves."

NYCCAH's Take: It is indeed vital that the Mayor continues to set poverty reduction as a key goal. That sets a crucial benchmark for future performance.

His speech admitted that about 1.8 million New Yorkers (the meaning of his "nearly one in five" line) now live in poverty, but I couldn’t help but notice that that he said his efforts would only help "thousands." Not hundreds of thousands. Not tens of thousands. Just "thousands." Given that the Mayor takes pride in his use of specific numbers, I don't think the word "thousands" was merely accidental. He has set his bar for success very low indeed. After all, if these efforts only lift thousands above the poverty line, then there will be far more poverty the day the Mayor leaves office than the day he entered it. That’s not a war on poverty --- that's hardly even a heated argument with poverty.

It is certainly helpful that the Mayor has committed $150 million in new funding to combat poverty, but that equals only about $125 per person for each New Yorker living below the meager federal poverty line. Significant additional investments in affordable housing, child care, job training and other areas will be needed to reverse the tide of growing poverty in the city.

Here’s a specific example from yesterday’s speech - about the need to make college more accessible for low-income working people - that further demonstrates the gap between the lofty goals and very limited resources. The Mayor said the City would -

"help working students at CUNY's community colleges step forward to earn higher degrees - and then, higher incomes. Right now, the demands of their jobs prevent far too many of them from completing their studies and without degrees, they often remain among our working poor. So this September the City University will establish dedicated morning, afternoon, and evening tracks, enabling some working students to do all their schoolwork during hours convenient for them. As far as we know, no community college system anywhere has ever attempted this approach. But every successful business offers services that reflect customer needs. And so should government!”

But the Mayor neither announces any way to make such educations more affordable nor announces any reforms to the current City policies that actually work against allowing people who receive public assistance to attend college full-time. It will surely be useful for classes to be held at more convenient times, but if people can’t afford to attend such classes, this improvement is all-but-pointless.

Troubling Omissions

Out of a 6,589-word speech, the Mayor never once used the words “hunger,” hungry” or “food.”

It is no surprise that he failed to mention that hunger, food insecurity, and the use of charitable food pantries and soup kitchens all continued to skyrocket upwards under his watch, but it is a bit surprising that he didn’t even mention that he had agreed to create a the first-ever position, based in his office, to coordinate food policy issues for the City.

It is also no shock that the Mayor also failed to mention that poverty and homelessness are also higher today than the day he took office.

Misleading Claims on Welfare Reform

The Mayor also said: "Over the past five years, we've moved more than 400,000 people from welfare to work. Our welfare rolls are down 18% from 2002 - and are now lower than at any time since 1964."

The facts indicate that the Mayor's welfare claim is likely misleading at best. When he took office in January 2002, there were 459,056 New Yorkers receiving public assistance. As of November 2006 (the last month for which data is available) that number was 380,204, which is only a 78,852 person drop. Thus, if there really were 400,000 people who left the welfare rolls since Bloomberg became Mayor, that likely means than an astounding 321,148 of them came ON the rolls during the Bloomberg Administration before leaving the rolls. Or it could mean that many people on welfare got jobs but stayed on welfare, but that would still make the Mayor’s claim very misleading.

The Mayor's repeated claim that everyone leaving the rolls has a job when they do so is also misleading. According to recent HRA statements, of those public assistance recipients who moved from welfare to work, 88% have retained their jobs after three months, and 75% have stayed employed after six months. Yet the Mayor and others often use this statistic to give the misleading impression that 75% of all welfare-leavers have jobs after six months. That claim glosses over the reality that, as reported by City Limits magazine and never contradicted by the City, only 23% of New Yorkers who leave the welfare rolls report having jobs when they do so. Since only 75% of that 23% report jobs after six months, that means that only l7% of all New Yorkers who leave welfare -- less than one in five -- report having paid employment six months after they leave the rolls.

What happened to the other the other 83%? One possibility is that they obtained well-paying jobs that lifted their income so much that they had such little need of future City help that they didn't even bother to report their new jobs to the City. Another possibility is that they failed to obtain any employment at all, subsequently falling even further into destitution, forcing them to rely upon soup kitchens and food pantries and sometimes even becoming homeless. My largely anecdotal experience in this regard leads to me believe that the first scenario occurred occasionally and the second occurred more frequently, but that most welfare leavers fell between those extremes, perhaps having some full- or part-time work but not earning enough to fully support their families. Yet when it comes to an issue so important, surely we should not have to rely on mere anecdotal experiences. The bottom line is that there is no hard data on what really happens to New Yorkers who leave welfare. To my knowledge, the City has never had a serious study on the long-term impact of welfare reform on past recipients, and New York State has not looked at any such data more recent than March 2001, before the economic downturn.

The way the Mayor keeps claiming success for welfare reform is by moving the goal lines to decrease their performance targets. For instance, in 2003 Mayor Bloomberg set a goal of placing 120,000 welfare recipients in jobs, but ended up placing only 70,410, or 58 percent, of the original goal. But by decreasing the 2004 goal to only 90,000 job placements, when the City was able to place 82,651 people in jobs, the Bloomberg Administration produced a politically appealing (but highly deceptive) chart showing that they had achieved 92 percent of their placement goal in 2004. I don't think they posted such stats for 2005. As of December 2006, HRA had placed only 70,947 people in jobs out of their goal of 85,000 for the year. Thus, even with diminished job placement targets, they aren't even meeting those goals.

See: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hra/downloads/pdf/new_hire.pdf

Also, I can't help but again notice that the Mayor compares welfare numbers versus 1964, but, in other venues, when he is forced to talk about food stamps, he only uses numbers that go back to 2002, given the false impression that Food Stamp Program participation is much higher than it really is.

The Coalition Against Hunger is hiring!

Today the New York City Coalition Against Hunger announced two new positions available immediately:

• Child Nutrition Benefits Outreach Consultant, part-time contract.
  
• Coordinator of Volunteer Programs, full-time staff.

Please follow the links to learn more about each position.

Bloomberg Picks Pataki Official to Run City’s Welfare Agency

Today the New York Times reported on Mayor Bloomberg's pick of former state welfare commissioner Robert Doar to head HRA, the city agency that controls access to food stamps, after the departure of long-time head Verna Eggleston. NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg was quoted as saying," “It shows that the mayor is taking this seriously, that he’s appointed a serious person."

NYCCAH Calls Out the Po$t

In a letter to the editor published in today's New York Post, NYCCAH executive director Joel Berg called the paper to task for its error-riddled, misleading editorial on the supposed "non-existence" of hunger in the city.

NYCCAH Calls for Big Changes in the Federal Food Stamp Program

Happy New Year from the New York City Coalition Against Hunger!

This weekend, NYCCAH was quoted in two nationally syndicated NPR reports calling for greater focus on hunger and poverty in NYC, and increased efficiency and coherence in fighting hunger on the federal level.

NYCCAH Offers Praise for New Bloomberg Initiative, Support for the REAACT Bill

Today members of the Coalition Against Hunger praised the Bloomberg administration for its announcement of a new initiative to provide low-income New Yorkers with tools and education to reach financial empowerment. In particular, the Coalition praised the inclusion of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) among the ideas to be funded (covered in the New York Times).

Earlier today, Joel Berg, executive director of the Coalition, offered brief testimony to the New York City Council in support of the Ready Access to Assistance (REAACT) bill offered by Councilman Bill deBlasio (Intro. 359). This bill would once again allow advocates and non-profit volunteers into government offices to assist applicants in knowing their rights and obtaining benefits. The practice, disallowed under the Giuliani administration, would "enable city residents to get the best possible service from their government," according to Berg.

Holiday Gift to the Hungry: Another dip in Food Stamps participation, and (not coincidentally) City timeliness rates

NYCCAH today released the latest analysis of City food stamp participation numbers. Participation dropped in October 2006 by 5,039 people, and is now at the lowest level since October 2005. In addition, year-to-date data as of September 2006 indicates that the citywide food stamps timeliness rate at job centers has gotten even worse, with the City now missing the federal 30 day deadline in 19.1% – nearly one in five – of all cases.

Said Joel Berg, executive director of NYCCAH, “Mayor Bloomberg often speaks about the importance of having solid data upon which to base decisions. Now that there is clear proof that Food Stamps Program participation is dipping in the City even as it is increasing Statewide and even as hunger is soaring, I hope the Mayor accepts the reality that the City is at fault for placing too many barriers in the way of program access. I hope he directs his new Food Policy Task Force and his new Food Policy Coordinator to make it a top priority to fix this broken program.”

Bloomberg, Quinn announce creation of new office of Food and Nutrition

Today, City Council Speaker Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg jointly announced the creation of a new Office of Food and Nutrition meant to coordinate policy in the City's response to hunger and malnutrition. The pair also announced a parallel expansion of an existing program to assist bodegas in selling healthier food in low-income communities where nutritious, affordable food is rare. Coverage in the New York Times and the New York Post included NYCCAH's enthusiastic support of these measures.

New Data: Hunger Still Skyrocketing in NYC

Today the Coalition Against Hunger released its newest annual survey of hunger in NYC, demonstrating that despite the soaring stock market and other positive economic indicators, the number of NYC residents forced to feed their families at soup kitchens and food pantries continues to grow. See the press release and full report.

Update: These numbers generated stories Thanksgiving week from the following print outlets: the New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Newsday, Metro NY, AM NY, Hoy, El Diario La Prensa, Queens Chronicle, Queens Tribune, Queens Ledger, Brooklyn Courier Life, City Limits Weekly, Christian Post and People’s Daily Online, and the wire services Associated Press, Agence France Presse and Xinhua. Segments aired on the following television programs: NBC News, ABC News, NY1 News, NY1 “Inside City Hall,” NY1 “The Call,” Univision Noticias, Telemundo Noticias, My9 News, WPIX News, Brooklyn/Bronx 12 News, Fox 5 News (unconfirmed), and Bronx Net “Bronx Talk.” Radio segments aired on the following stations: WNYC News, 1010 WINS, WWRL “The Armstrong Williams Show,” WBAI News, WBAI “Talkback w/ Hugh Hamilton” and WBAI “Wake-Up Call.”

HRA Commissioner admits to a rise in hunger - even among her own staff

In a hearing given today before the New York City Council, HRA Commissioner Verna Eggleston testified that she is seeing an increase in need for food stamps at her agency, even among her own employees. Read NYCCAH's testimony from this hearing here.

Update: The Daily News has learned that 3%, or approximately 8,000 city employees, make so little that they are forced to use food stamps to feed their families.

New Hunger Numbers Set For Release Tuesday

The Coalition will be releasing the results of its 2006 survey of NYC's soup kitchens and food pantries Tuesday 11/21 and Wednesday 11/22 in media events across the five boroughs. The flagship event in the Bronx Tuesday morning will feature speakers including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Assembly Members Benjamin and Rivera, and City Council members Addabo and Brewer. See more details here.

Groundbreaking Mapping Study reveals link between obesity and hunger and lack of Fresh Produce in low-income neighborhoods

In a press release the New York City Coalition Against Hunger announced it has completed a pioneering new study using cutting-edge computer mapping technology to show how low-income neighborhoods in the city lack access to nutritious food in supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and other sources of fresh produce. It demonstrates that, in low-income neighborhoods, fresh produce and nutritious food are harder to access than fattening junk food. The study includes an interactive map of all food sources in New York City from restaurants to retail sites, and raw data for public use. The study was subsequently covered by the NY Daily News, WOR Channel 9 News, the Queens Tribune, Bronx 12 News, and the Gotham Gazette.

Pantries should receive additional funding

In an article appearing in the New York Daily News, Lisa Colangelo reports on the testimony given by Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, regarding the trans fat ban. "We support the ban, but people need to understand this will mean less food in the food pantry," said Berg. Berg also told the Board of Health that any plan to ban food with trans fats, means the city should provide extra money for pantries and soup kitchens to buy trans fat-free foods.

Trans-fat ban should be coupled with funding increases for Emergency Food Providers

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger supports the proposed measure made to ban all trans fats. However, some worries must first be addressed, as mentioned in a testimony by Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. Berg says that the "efforts to ban trans fats need to be part of an even broader effort to increase nutrition education and improve the access to healthy, affordable food citywide." This should include increased access to the Food Stamp and WIC Programs. Berg also states that the already stretched resources of Emergency Food Providers in New York City should not be stretched even further by cutting funding or food supplies. Since these agencies will also be required to obide by the new regulations, their funding will need to be increased so that they can comply.

Hardworking Responsibility

A letter written by Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, and published in the New York Times, he responds to an article written by James Traub that was published in the New York Times on October 8th, 2006. Traub cites theorists who claim that people who act and live responsibly will not be poor, or will be able to rise out of poverty. Berg writes that this could not be true since many responsible people are hard workers, working two or three jobs, just to pay the bills. Berg cites family, connections and luck as some possible determinates of wealth.

Going for its goal

The Gotham Gazette recently interviewed Lawrence Aber, a member of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Commission for Economic Opportunity, regarding the Commission, shortcomings of its methods used to measure poverty, and to answer questions whether the city’s new anti-poverty efforts are succeeding. In the interview, Aber states that he believes poverty is much worse than the numbers suggest, many people live below the Economic Opportunity Index. Aber does however believe that the commission is going to meet its goals. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, responded to the commissions report in late September. He also stated that the Coalition is glad the mayor and the commision are doing someting, but it would like to see them do more.

New Federal Law Could Hurt City

A new federal law that went in to effect this month could hurt New York City by as much as $375 million a year in fees. Neil DeMause reported in the Village Voice of the meeting between councilmember Bill de Blasio and Human Resources Administration commissioner Verna Eggleston. Essleston noted that the federal government has redefined allowable work activities for welfare recipients to exlude, for example, caring for sick relatives. She still plans on increasing the city's participation rate for eligible individuals up to the required 50 percent. Whether the city will be able to reach that goal is not known. If the city does not reach that goal, then federal funding could be cut by as much as $375 million a year. Eggleston, however, did not state what this funding loss could mean to the city's poor. She simply reassured that she believes the poor should not "bear the brunt of our inefficiencies."

Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, also attended, and stated that only 23 percent of welfare recipients in New York City have left welfare because they found work, and one-quarter of those were no longer employed six months later.

In his testimony regarding welfare reform, Berg said you cannot judge the success of welfare reform solely by how many people leave welfare for work. He likened this to judging the success of a hospital solely by how many people leave. Berg stated, "you never hear a public official say: 'Well, fewer people are getting social security, great!'"

Food Stamp Program participation down

The New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) just released data indicating participation in the Food Stamp Program in New York City dropped in August 2006 by 5,031 people, and is now at the lowest level since November 2005. Data also shows that 40,534 more meals were served at soup kitchens and food pantries by July 2006 compared to July 2006. Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coaltion Againt Hunger, responded to this information in a Press Release stating, “it is indeed troubling that the use of the federally-funded Food Stamp Program is declining at precisely the same time that the use of charitable food pantries and soup kitchens – which receive limited City funding – is increasing...this is the latest indication that the City has yet to remove the many daunting barriers to Food Stamp Program access.”

Economic Opportunity Report

A response by Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, was quick to follow after Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his commission against poverty released the Economic Opportunity Report in September. The economic report released by Bloomberg outlines goals that the Bloomberg administration is tackling to combat poverty. It also focuses on three specific poverty groups; children, young adults 16-24, and the working poor. Berg agrees that this is a good place to start, since these groups comprise a large percentage of New Yorkers living in poverty, although other populations living in poverty should not be forgotten.

Berg also said, "We certainly support the call to increase access to work supports such as food stamp benefits and child care. Furthermore, we whole-heartedly support the creation of poverty measurements that more accurately reflect the daily reality of low-income people living in a city as expensive as New York." Bloomberg also mentioned a new program the city would like to implement. This new program would reward people with up $1,500 in return for other positive behaviors. Melanie Lefkowitz, Newday staff writer, writes in her article Perks for the poor (available by subscription only), that the rewards program would be funded through private donations, and it would even be the first of its kind in the United States. Although proven successful in other countries, Berg criticized the Administration for creating new benefits that would require additional funds, rather than increase access to the Food Stamp Program, which would provide a low-income family in New York City with an average $2,400 per year in federal support for improved nutrition.

Mayor Bloomberg proposes Trans Fat Ban

The Bloomberg Administration has proposed a ban on most trans fats in New York City restaurants. Advocates with the New York City Coalition Against Hunger find this to be a sensible approach that would improve the nutrition and health of New Yorkers of all economic backgrounds. This should, however, be the first step in an even broader effort to increase nutrition educations and improve the access to healthy, affordable food citywide, said the Advocates.

Council vows to increase food stamp enrollment

Nearly $1 Billion a year in federal funding are lost to New York City because more than 500,000 eligible New Yorkers are not receiving Food Stamp Benefits. However, Council Speaker Christine Quinn has vowed to sign up at least 350,000 eligible recipients by the end of 2009, according to Frank Lombardi of the New York Daily News. Although enrollment has increased by 30 Percent since Mayor Bloomberg took office, New York still has not reached its one-time peak enrollment in 1995 of 1.5 million participants. Even though the Mayor claims you have to work to earn food stamps, nearly two out of three recipients are children, elderly or disabled people not working, according to Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn-Queens) and Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx) have been pressing for passage of a bill to remove bureaucratic obstacles in the application process.

Bloomberg Ignores Food Stamp Eligibility of Children, Seniors, and the Disabled

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger commented on remarks Mayor Bloomberg made regarding Food Stamp eligibility on a recent radio interview on WABC-AM with John Gambling. In the Press Release released by the Coalition, Blomberg was quoted saying that only working adults are eligible for Food Stamps Benefits, a statement criticized because at least 65 percent of Food Stamp recipients are children, seniors or people with disabilities who are not able to work.

Forbes' Billionaires Nearly Double in New York City

According to the most recent "Forbes 400" report, the number of billionaires in New York City increased from 28 to 45 over the last year, with their total net worth at approximately $60.4 billion. The 1.7 million residents living below the federal poverty line earned a total of approximately $3.45 Billion. New York City now has 3% of the nation's overall population, 4% of the nation's people living in poverty, and 11% of the nation's billionaires. WNYC also noted that this is the first year that all 400 richest Americans are billionaires.

Tax Credits for the Poor

Poor working families in New York City may soon find relief. In a press conference held on Monday, Mayor Bloomberg announced a plan offering tax credits to poor families to offset child care costs. There is also a plan to initiate a cash rewards program for poor people to encourage them to stay in school and receive preventative medical care. This cash rewards program would be the first of its kind in the nation, although similar programs exist in other countries. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger was quoted in The New York Times saying he was disappointed that the report did not offer "particular strategies to address city polocies that continue to increase hunger." He was also quoted in an article, for Newsday saying, "we consider this report a down payment on more concrete proposals, including ideas focused on the removal of these obstacles to basic work supports."Other antipoverty advocates agreed with Berg. They fear that focusing on working poor families and young adults will cause other poor populations to be ignored.

Nassau and Bronx Emergency Shelters lose funding

Emergency shelters in the Bronx and Nassau counties have lost their Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) for the following fiscal year, as reported in The New York Nonprofit Press E-Newsletter. Following is the article:

Turnover in Emergency Shelter Grants; Nassau, Bronx Lose Funding

This year’s award of Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) by the State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has seen considerable turnover among grantees and a complete loss of funding for several high need counties. Nassau County’s only two prior recipients of ESG funding – the Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN) and the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV)– both lost out in this year's grant awards leaving the County with no ESG grantees. The Bronx also will go without a single ESG award this year. Citizen’s Advice Bureau had been the borough’s only ESG- funded provider in the prior round of awards.

The turnover was the result of an increase number of proposals for the FY2006 program, explained John Sheedy of OTDA’s Public Information Office. Funds were not allocated based on geography, he explained, “the determination of grant awards was based solely on how the organizations ranked.” Statewide, the ESG funding remained virtually constant from year to year at almost $3.1 million. A total of 33 awards were made this year versus 35 last year.

“NCCADV had received grants for the past eight years and we have received grants for the past 11 years,” said Jean Kelly, Executive Director of The INN. The INN had used its $100,000 ESG funding to support work at its three shelters in the county. While the ESG grant represents only a small portion of the agency’s overall budget for shelters, the loss is crucial in light of fundraising pressures, explained Kelly. “We are already operating at a loss. At this time, we are having to consider closing one of our shelters. It would be about 8 families and 35-40 people not having a place to go.”

New York City’s allocation fell by 17% from $833,338 in 2005 to $733,212 in 2006.

A full list of local ESG awardees for 2006 is attached.

Child Obesity

Children are heavier now than ever. It also seems that child obesity starts at home. Many overweight children have parents who do not have enough time to prepare healthy and nutritious meals, and are usually overweight themselves. Nanci Hellmich reported in an article for USATODAY.com that even if the parents start to make changes in their eating habits, they usually start too late, and the children are already set in their eating habits, or they do not want to deny their children. Some parents are also overfeeding their younger children, unintentionally giving them near-adult size portions of food. Starting slow, small and at home is a good way to start improving the eating habits of your entire household.

Free, Fresh Fruit

Giving away fresh fruit in schools may be beneficial to students. A pilot program was recently completed in Mississippi, where different varieties of fresh fruit were given to fifth, eighth and tenth grade students. The program showed that the students increased their intake of fruits, vitamin C and fiber. The tenth grade students even planned on increasing their fruit intake overall. The article, listed on Reuters, did say that further research was needed to ensure effectiveness of this method of fruit distribution.

Link found between Poverty and Asthma

In low-income neighborhoods, children are four times more likely to be hospitalized from Asthma than in other areas. Natalie Olivero writes in an article for the Gotham Gazette that the reason for these higher instances of asthma and asthma related hospitalizations could come from higher amounts of pollution in the air. Low-income neighborhoods tend to have more bus-depots and processing facilities than other neighborhoods.

Anti-poverty Legislation announced

New legislation was recently propsed that would simplify the food stamp process and also create additional grants for nonprofit organizations. The bill, entitled the Anti-Hunger Empowerment Act of 2006, was submitted by U.S. Reps. Anthony Weiner and Jose E. Serrano after the US Census bureau released its most recent poverty statistics for NYC. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has also announced several plans to help reduce hunger and poverty in NYC. Her plan is to reduce the number of food stamp eligible un-enrolled individuals by half, increasing enrollment by about 300,000. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger, stated in the Queens Tribune Online that he was moved by her message and her goal to reach the 50 percent reduction of food stamp eligible un-enrolled inidivuals.

Funding despite fiscal shortage

Despite fiscal shortages, 15 Staten Island Organizations serving the needs of senior citizens will still receive their annual funding this year. Borough President James Molinaro recently allocated $858,487 to organizations throughout the Island, although he had feared funding cuts. Molinaro was quoted in the Staten Island Advance saying, "I am extremely proud that, despite fiscal shortfalls, I am able to maintain funding for these vital programs."

Hunger among NYC children

A report released by the Food Bank For New York City showed that 18 percent of children in New York City relied on emergency food programs, such as soup kitchens and food pantries, for their meals. The study also found that hungry children have a harder time learning.

Poverty and obesity linked in NYC children

Poverty rates in New York City among children are 50 percent higher than those for other children across the United States, as reported by Michelle Nichols for Reuters. Of the 1.9 million children living in NYC, about one in four lives below the federal poverty line. Most of these children are also overweight, since many of their families are not able to provide their children with the nutritious food they need to live a nutritionally balanced life.

Simplified access to benefits

New policies to help the poor people of New York City may soon be coming. Tracie McMillan reports that in a memo obtained by City Limits WEEKLY, Mayor Bloomberg's Commission for Economic Opportunity made statements that seemed to suggest that the commission wants to simplify the processes involved with receiving government benefits. The Commission is even interested in possibly making enrollment and screenings available online. Bloomberg and the commission have been criticized by some for moving away from Giuliani'’s "tough love" approach, that makes getting government benefits complicated, thus weeding out individuals that aren't dedicated enough to see the process through. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger was reported saying that "the city has a long way to go before access is as easy as point and click anyway."

New York

In a Star-Gazette opinion piece Jay Gallagher writes that the gubernatorial candidates should focus more on the states economic problems. The census report released in late August revealed the news of the once again increased poverty rate in NYS. Hardest hit were the big upstate cities, some of which are experiencing poverty rates of about 30 percent. Each of the three frontrunner candidates had well informed and different ideas on how to attack the increasing rate of poverty. Gallagher however writes that more discussion between the candidates, analyzing their individual poverty reduction plans, would be more beneficial.

Making the greatest job in the world even better

New York City has been called "The greatest city in the world" by many people, including Mayor Bloomberg. Albert Ruiz, columnist for the New York Daily News, agrees. Ruiz however reveals that for many New Yorkers it might not be. The census data released on August 29th reveals that 12% of working adults, live in households that do not have enough food. Mayor Bloomberg, who has been quoted saying he has "the greatest job in the world", has already started a fight against poverty. His anti-poverty commission plans to make New York a more equitable place, in particular for young people and the working poor.

Poverty among immigrants

Moving to America is a dream for many foreigners living in poverty. However, once in America, some find that they still experience poverty they tried to escape. Using the census data released on August 29th, Edwin Andrés Martínez informs us that poverty is prevalent in the Hispanic and immigrant populations of New York City. In an article written for hoyinternet.com, Martínez quotes Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger, saying "the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer." Mayor Bloomberg agrees, and has targeted the immigrant and Hispanic populations in his anti-poverty initiative. "We are concentrating on certain populations to see what we can do to address this problem," the Mayor said.

Census reports

Poverty rates have not risen in New York City for the first time in several years, but reports published by several New York media outlets say that the fight against poverty is not over.

The census report was the top story on NY1 News. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger was quoted saying “The bad news is hunger and poverty continue to be significant major problems in New York, affecting one in five New Yorkers. The good news is if the government shows real leadership, and not just rhetoric but resources, we really can reduce poverty.”

An article written for The New York Times by Sam Roberts, mentions Mayor Bloomberg's plan to reduce poverty as a goal for his second term. It also states that New York was the only state where both the median income and poverty rates surpassed the national average, indicating that the gap between the wealthy and the poor might be increasing.

Income increases listed in the census report released on August 29th, seem not to be wage increases, as reported in an editorial of The New York Times. The gains came most likely from investment income and social security, since wages and salaries declined.

Richard Parsons, Co-chairman of Mayor Bloomberg's anti-poverty commission and CEO of Time Warner, got a taste of what his life will be like on the board of the commission, according to Jill Gardiner, staff reporter of The New York Sun. After the release of the census report on August 29th, a group of citizens demanded that he and the commission be aggressive in its plan to reduce poverty in New York.

Poverty among seniors increased however, as WNBC reported on its website.

Of all of the five boroughs, Bronx is statistically the least wealthy, according to federal government poverty rates, with over 29 percent of people living in poverty. Although the overall poverty rate for New York did not increase, the Bronx still remains one of the nations poorest counties, according to Cindy Rodriguez at WNYC, New York Public Radio.

City ordered to stop denying food stamps to eligible applicants

Applying for food stamps might get better soon. According to an article published in the New York Times, a federal judge has ordered the food stamp office to stop denying food stamp benefits to eligible individuals. Nina Bernstein writes that the city has been aware of the computer problems and system errors that force food stamp workers to turn applicants away. Little was done until a group of battered women filed a law suit late last year.

Poverty stabilized in New York City, but rose in New York State

Poverty rates have risen again in New York State, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Although the poverty rate in New York City remained stabilized, the report reconfirmed that one in five New York City residents lives below the federal poverty line. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger, stated that these high levels of poverty in New York City, and throughout the state, "should provide a wake-up call for both government officials and business leaders." Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum reinforced this call by signing on to an action plan to significantly reduce hunger in the city.

Berg, others deride Besharov's view of "Welfare Lite"

Joel Berg, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Hunger, was printed in Sunday's New York Times Opinion section alongside several others deriding a recent Op-Ed by conservative commentator Douglas Besharov suggesting that food stamps and other policies constitute 'welfare lite.' Wrote Berg, "even when conservatives like Mr. Besharov are forced to admit that low-income Americans are now working more but earning less, their only response is to propose steps that would further reduce their standard of living. That’s social policy lite."

Mayor's Commission Member Highlights Food Stamps

A recent opinion piece in the Gotham Gazette written by David R. Jones, member of Mayor Bloomberg's Economic Opportunity Commission, has finally made the point that food stamps are an integral tool in encouraging work. We can only hope that these important ideas will gain momentum within the commission, and provide the framework for targeted action when its findings are released next month.

Public Advocate Joins NYCCAH in Criticizing Hunger Hotline

Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg joined Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum in publicizing a new report criticizing the City for continued mismanagement of the toll-free Hunger Hotline last week. “If you can’t find food, you can’t eat,” Berg told the press. Read the release and full report here.

New City Council Program Boosts Food Stamps at Farmers' Markets

The Coalition Against Hunger joined City Council speaker Christine Quinn and the Council on the Environment of NYC (CENYC), operator of half of the city's farmers' markets (see map) in launching a pilot project to give New Yorkers who receive food stamps greater access to nutritious food at these markets. Quinn and the Council allocated $81,000 in the FY 2007 budget for the program, mainly for the purchase of wireless EBT terminals. (Pictured: Quinn, CENYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen, Coalition Executive Director Joel Berg, and a farmer)

Blackout: Reimbursement available for spoiled food

Residents of Queens and the Bronx affected by the major blackouts of this week and last week can obtain reimbursements for spoiled food through the New York City government and conEdison. Additionally, those who receive food stamps can obtain replacement food stamps by filling out an application within the next 10 days. For instructions and procedures, residents are urged to call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov.

City Council donates money to food pantry

As a result of an individual member’s request, a $4,000 grant was given to the Yorkville Common Food Pantry by the City Council. There has been some controversy over how these funds are allocated, particularly in regards to whether the projects are deserving of grants or are simply member “pet projects.”

The food deserts--not desserts--of Chicago

A recent analysis in the Chicago Tribune discusses the lack of healthy and nutritious food available in low-income African American communities. The New York City Coalition Against Hunger is in the process of completing its own mapping report about food security in the South Bronx, Brownsville, and Central Harlem. The information will be available at nyccah.org/maps.

Youth group from Stoughton, Mass. volunteers in NYC

Ten members of the Stoughton First Congregational Church traveled to New York City on a five-day mission trip. During this time, they worked at soup kitchens and fed “over 5,000 people,” according to one young volunteer. His mother observed that “in New York there are just so many different things out there for those people who really need it.”

Kosher food for Orthodox needy

Amidst rising hunger among Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn and what the Food Bank for New York City refers to a “stigma” about poverty among this population, the Orthodox soup kitchen Masbia serves a large number of Brooklyn Jews.

City food agency key component of Council anti-hunger plan

Responding to calls from advocates and health professionals, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and member Eric Gioia are seeking a comprehensive citywide approach to fighting hunger. According to Gioia, the sensible, low-cost plan endorsed by the council entails creating a city hunger czar, cutting through the red tape on food stamps access, and enabling food stamps recipients to obtain healthier foods like fruits and vegetables.

New welfare guidelines may increase need for emergency food

From the July 7 edition of the Foodlinks America electronic newsletter:

"Revised guidelines for what can be counted to meet work requirements in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the federal government’s main welfare support mechanism for families with children, reduce state flexibility and may increase the number of families in need of emergency food. The new regulations were issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services in the June 28, 2006 Federal Register.

"Welfare analysts found the new rules to be unduly restrictive....

"'In the late 1990s, in a better economy with more spending on child care and other work supports, states had a hard time reaching even the lower work standards,' Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, told Foodlinks America. 'Now, with fewer jobs available and less money for work supports, states will have no choice but to throw more people off the rolls – whether or not they have jobs,' Berg noted. 'The new rules will likely increase poverty, homelessness, and hunger – the absolute opposite of their stated goal of helping people achieve self-sufficiency,' he said."

Column: Inform kids about summer meals

With one in four children in New York City lacking consistent access to sufficient, quality food, Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz calls attention to the Summer Meals Service for Children that provides free food for children in the summer. He says lack of information has been a cause of low enrollment in the program, even though it is desperately needed.

Links found between food insecurity and obesity

A recent study from the American Society for Nutrition shows a strong link between household food insecurity and individual weight gain. Along with an American Medical Association report linking poverty and obesity in black adolescents, a USDA analysis showing income linked to children's eating habits, and a brand new Journal of Nutrition study linking food insecurity and obesity in women, the existing corpus of research overwhelmingly favors a link between lack of food and obesity and contradicts a previous finding in Pediatrics magazine.

McGovern, Quinn dine to mark National Hunger Awareness Day

Former Senator and current “got breakfast?” spokesperson George McGovern (D-S.D.) joined City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and schoolchildren at P.S. 93 on National Hunger Awareness Day, June 6, to call attention to free school breakfast programs. School breakfasts are inadequately used, and at a time of problematic citywide hunger, both the “got breakfast?” campaign and Quinn view increasing participation as a significant goal. Quinn called on her fellow council members to join her in eating with children that day, and 27 heeded her request.

Memorial weekend festive at Holy Apostles

NYCCAH file photo: Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen

It was all burgers and baked beans at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, as volunteers tried to infuse regular meal service with a festive, all-American atmosphere. Father Bill Greenlaw, rector and executive director of the meal program, said many veterans are among the clientele.

Coalition releases plan to end U.S. child hunger by 2012

Today the New York City Coalition Against Hunger released a position paper cowritten by Executive Director Joel Berg and national political consultant Tom Freedman intended to spur an end to U.S. child hunger by 2012. The paper demonstrates the solveability of the problem, and points out that the tools for accomplishing this worthy goal are already available - all that is needed is the will to "break the political logjam," and combine these efforts in a targeted campaign.

Council not interested in Mayor's budget dance

Mayor Michael Bloomberg declined to include $300 million in funding for existing programs in his proposed city budget. Many in the New York City nonprofit community expressed disappointment at Bloomberg’s readiness to engage in the annual “budget dance,” a term used by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to describe the political maneuvering surrounding allocations. Said Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg, “Not only did the mayor fail to include funding for any of the anti-hunger initiatives proposed by Speaker Quinn, he actually called for [a] $670,000 cut in the Emergency Food Assistance Program.... We applaud Speaker Quinn and the Council for realizing that with millions of lives at stake, the budget process should not be a 'dance' but rather a serious process of meeting city needs."

Belated aid: Online food stamps apps to become available

Next December, one month later than mandated by the City Council last summer, New York City will allow hungry citizens to apply for food stamps online. New York has an unusually low rate of participation in the Food Stamps Program, which many credit to excessive bureaucratic red tape and problems with the in-person application process.

Quinn proposes EBT scanners at Greenmarkets

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn proposed allocating $81,000 out of the city budget to install EBT card scanners that would allow Greenmarkets—farmers’ markets in Brooklyn, Harlem, and the South Bronx—to accept food stamps. Few farmers have the scanners, which run about $1,000 each.

Media comes out against Bloomberg on waiver decision

In an Apr. 23 editorial, The New York Times criticized Bloomberg’s “inexplicable” decision not to allow certain adults to receive food stamps while looking for work. Meanwhile, Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz said it was time for the mayor to get a “wake-up call” about the tragedy of widespread hunger in the richest city in the world.

Denise Morgan, former Coalition director, dies

Denise Morgan, a legal scholar and a former director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, died April 7. She was a valued member of the Coalition's family and an asset to the New York City anti-hunger movement who will be deeply missed.

She was born in Manhattan, grew up in the Bronx, and attended the Chapin School in Manhattan before proceeding to Yale University for her undergraduate and law school education. She then taught law at Florida State University, clerked for a federal judge in California, helped draft the Eritrean constitution from 1995 to 1997, and served on the faculty at New York Law School from 1995 on.

Whether she was fighting to ensure equality in school funding or supporting the Coalition's work against hunger, Denise exemplified the country's best traditions in the continuing struggle for social justice.

Mayor reverses course on food stamps waiver

A day after The New York Times reported New York City would permit unemployed, able-bodied adults without children to receive food stamps for over three months in any three-year period, Mayor Michael Bloomberg reversed course. This time limit can be waived by cities with high unemployment rates, like Chicago, Washington, and New York. Of eligible cities, New York is one of only a handful not to exercise the waiver.

The mayor’s apparent flip-flop comes after Human Resources Administration Commissioner Verna Eggleston sent a request to the state for the waiver. Despite a proclaimed effort to fight poverty in his second term, dislike of public assistance programs may have been at the heart of the mayor’s decision. The far right hailed the mayor’s ultimate decision, while anti-poverty advocates were stunned and concerned.

City Council Speaker Quinn calls to halve NYC hunger

Advocates were "overjoyed" with Christine Quinn's first major address since assuming the top position on the City Council. Speaker Quinn called for specific budget measures to cut hunger in the city by 50%, including the creation of a City Office of Hunger and Nutrition; setting specific goals for increased participation in the federally-funded Food Stamp Program; coordinating enrollment in the Food Stamp and School Meals Programs; and increasing the number of farmers’ markets in low-income neighborhoods.

Coalition maps spotlighted by Tech Soup

Tech Soup, a technology website for nonprofit organizations, has published a feature story on the New York City Coalition Against Hunger's mapping operations. The interactive maps, which use Google Maps as a framework, show the location of emergency food programs in the five boroughs of New York City.

Controversy over Congressman’s support of food bill

U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns, who represents parts of Brooklyn, has come under fire for his sponsorship of the National Uniformity in Food Act. The bill, which passed the House Mar. 9, would impose uniform labelling standards. Its opponents include consumer organizations and some state Democrats. Supporters, however, hailed the bill as a victory for consumers.

Demand for emergency food up in United States

Nationally, the demand for emergency food has increased by 8 percent in the past five years, according to a study by America’s Second Harvest. More than 25 million Americans now receive some sort of emergency food at soup kitchens or food pantries.

Coalition joins advocates, Episcopal Church in calling for state $$ increase

Thursday, March 16, 2006, marked the 16th annual Hunger Awareness Day in New York State. In honor of the day, the Coalition Against Hunger, the Hunger Action Network, Feed the Solution and Episcopal emergency food program staff, clients and clergy called upon the New York State Legislature to increase funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP). HPNAP is the main source of state funding for food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries, and food rescue organizations. Governor George Pataki’s budget proposal would leave food pantries and soup kitchens statewide with two million dollars less in HPNAP funding than at its peak level four years ago, even though the number of people served by such agencies has skyrocketed during the same time period.

New data from City shows sharp hike in pantry and kitchen use

Charitable soup kitchens and food pantries that receive some funding from the City of New York provided 172,840 more meals in 2005 than in 2004, according to the first-ever release by the City of two full calendar years worth of such statistics. During the same two year time period, participation in the federally funded Food Stamp Program in the city increased by 141,916-people, providing low-income families with an estimated $170 million in additional federal nutrition assistance. According to Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg, “The only good news is that participation in the Food Stamp Program continues to climb somewhat, providing hungry families much more food than they would be otherwise able to obtain from pantries and kitchens. But as long as pantry and kitchen use continues to soar, our collective work is clearly cut out for us.”