Roughly 3 million New York and 800,000 New Jersey families woke up this morning, November 1, to find their EBT cards empty. For the first time in U.S. history, the federal government has halted food assistance during a shutdown—leaving millions at risk of hunger.
Over 2,500 VOA-GNY clients no longer have the means to buy groceries.
This abrupt halt to SNAP benefits coincides with the start of new, expanded SNAP work requirements that jeopardize food assistance for over 1 million Americans. The new rules impose onerous documentation requirements that will be difficult for many to meet, even those already working or volunteering. We are particularly concerned about adults ages 60-64, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness, who were previously exempt and are least equipped to bear this burden.
Putting dinner on the table should never be a political debate. While VOA-GNY is exploring every option to stock our pantry shelves and connect people with jobs, our community—families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals facing homelessness—will suffer most from this loss.
We urge the federal government to follow court orders and tap emergency reserves to fund SNAP benefits. If it fails to act, states must step in to ensure their residents do not go hungry.
We are grateful that Governors Hochul and Murphy have fast-tracked $104 million and $42.5 million to bolster food banks, but pantries cannot absorb 4 million people overnight. Families must be able to purchase essential groceries directly. We urge Governor Hochul to immediately release $655 million and Governor Murphy $150 million in emergency funds directly onto EBT cards.
At VOA-GNY, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that every person has access to the basic human rights of food, shelter, and safety.