Coalition urges Mayor to dedicate FEMA reimbursement funding for undocumented New Yorkers who are unable to access federally funded safety net programs like SNAP
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and more than 100 immigrant rights advocates, faith leaders and community-based organizations sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling for $25 million in FEMA reimbursement funding to be specifically dedicated to providing emergency food to undocumented New Yorkers, in addition to the City’s current emergency food programs. Unable to access federally funded safety net programs like SNAP, undocumented New Yorkers have fewer resources available to help put food on the table, and must rely solely on food pantries and mutual aid networks for additional food, which often is not enough.
The Biden Administration has agreed to lift the cap on FEMA reimbursement for New York State and City’s pandemic related costs, clearing the way for 100 percent reimbursements. This will result in $1 billion in reimbursements for New York City. Comptroller Stringer urged the City to dedicate at least $25 million of this funding to create food security programs for immigrant New Yorkers who have been left out of other safety net programs.
“It’s unconscionable that anyone should go hungry in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, especially in the middle of a public health crisis,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Immigrant New Yorkers have been hit hard by the pandemic, with higher rates of COVID infections and job losses–yet undocumented New Yorkers have been left out of federal and state food programs. The City must act immediately to create a $25 million emergency food program that serves our undocumented communities and reaches New Yorkers where they are– regardless of immigration status, cultural background or language. I am proud to join over 100 immigrant advocates, faith leaders and community-based organizations to say loud and clear: hunger does not discriminate, and neither should we.”
In February, Comptroller Stringer unveiled a comprehensive food security plan that called for the creation of a $25 million City-based emergency food program to serve undocumented New Yorkers left out of federal and state safety net programs. The plan offers immediate local, state, and federal recommendations to close gaps in emergency food programming, including a “shared delivery zone” program that centralizes neighbors’ food deliveries to meet online retailers’ minimum purchasing requirements, expanded SNAP outreach and purchasing power, and increased halal and kosher food options.
The full letter signed by more than 100 community-based organizations is available below and here.
Dear Mayor de Blasio:
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought immeasurable harm to New Yorkers, with skyrocketing unemployment and ballooning food insecurity following waves of illness and death. People of color and immigrant New Yorkers have been hit hardest with the highest rates of COVID infections, illness and fatalities, and job and income loss, all of which have contributed to our current crisis of food insecurity. But within these communities, undocumented New Yorkers are uniquely vulnerable when tragedy strikes. Unable to access federally funded safety net programs like SNAP, undocumented New Yorkers have fewer resources available to help put food on the table, and often rely solely on food pantries and mutual aid networks for additional food, which often is not enough. In a city like New York, it’s unconscionable that anyone should go hungry.
That’s why we are calling for $25 million in FEMA reimbursement funding to be specifically dedicated to providing emergency food to undocumented New Yorkers, in addition to the City’s current emergency food programs. The Biden Administration has agreed to lift the cap on FEMA reimbursement for New York State and City’s pandemic related costs, clearing the way for 100 percent reimbursements. This will result in $1 billion in reimbursements for New York City. This funding creates an opportunity to address food insecurity among New Yorkers who cannot access the federally funded SNAP program due to immigration status, including workers in the informal economy, seniors, and others who have been hardest hit. The City should seize this opportunity and dedicate at least $25 million of this funding to create food security programs for immigrant New Yorkers who have been left out of other safety net programs.
We call on you to take immediate action and commit the funding to make this proposal a reality. Undocumented New Yorkers cannot wait for relief any longer.
Sincerely,
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