The city’s food bank workers say immigrant families are increasingly afraid of visiting their locations in person. “They believe that ICE could be around the corner, and many families have told us that they cannot afford to put themselves at risk standing in line,” one source told El Diario.
‘Hunger is linked to a host of downstream negative physical, emotional, and social effects. Knowing this, how does America allow one in seven of our children to struggle with hunger?’
The new research illustrates the complexity of serving New York’s seniors as that population swells: While there are certainly common concerns, different populations within aging New York have vastly different needs.
‘If these higher benefits were eaten up immediately, it’s not like low-income people are spending it on caviar or something. They are struggling just to survive.’
But the number of SNAP participants in the city keeps falling. That could reflect good news about the economy, the impact of federal benefit cuts or the persistence at the city level of obstacles to families getting the help they need.
Two reports indicate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which used to be called food stamps, is failing to help as much as it should.
Though breastfeeding rates are up statewide, only a tiny proportion of new mothers breastfeed without using formula in many of New York City’s low-income communities. WIC is trying to change that.
Advocates hope access to healthy food, expanding school breakfast and ways to address hunger and the forces that drive it are issues that candidates for city office will be forced to discuss between now and Election Day.
During his weekly radio appearance on WNYC, the mayor said our reports about a proposed cut to a food program were inaccurate and suggested people should bypass the media to learn about the budget.
If Congressional Republicans slash food support, it will hurt—but there are steps the city can take to boost access to nutrition.
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