New Yorkers who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program say they’re missing meals, changing their diets and desperately turning to food pantries after the Trump administration paused payments at the start of the month.
A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to release money to states by Friday so they could issue this month’s benefits. But the Trump administration appealed, seeking an emergency pause to the court order. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, had previously told the court it would make partial payments, but that recalculating those amounts could take weeks or months. It’s unclear how long the appeal could further prolong payments.
The USDA blamed Senate Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown in a statement Thursday.
Now, the nearly week-long pause to SNAP is putting pressure on New York City’s emergency food distribution system and forcing people to make hard decisions about how often they can eat.
“I just don’t have food,” said 60-year-old Nelson Garcia, a SNAP recipient from Dyker Heights. “I eat once a day sometimes.”
Garcia was among dozens of people who dropped by Reaching Out Community Services food pantry in Bensonhurst on Thursday to pick up bags of fresh produce, canned items and meat. Founder Tom Neve said he’s been fielding calls all week from New Yorkers needing help. But he can only afford to serve people who live in four neighboring zip codes, given his limited staff and budget.
The Reaching Out Community Services food pantry in Bensonhurst says it's received more calls this week from people needing help.
“I don't like the idea of turning people away. We're here at the place of hope and relief, not disappointment and rejection. But what do I do?” he said.
Neve said he’ll refer people to pantries nearby, but if someone comes to his door in need, he’ll try not to let them leave empty-handed. Like 45-year-old Wendy Gonzalez, who came with her two kids after not receiving her SNAP benefits this month.
“Not even during COVID did it feel like this,” Gonzalez said in Spanish. She said she’s dipping into her stock of reserves at home, feeding her family lentils and other non-perishables, but that only goes so far because her children also need to drink fresh milk.
“Children and older adults and those who are sick, they’re the ones who will feel this the most,” she said.
Sharis Suarez, 38, said not being able to go to the grocery store to shop for her three sons is tough, especially because they have autism and are selective with what foods they eat, particularly about texture.
“ I feel defeated. I feel down because I'm trying to do so much with my kids and it's hard,” she said.
Without the $700 in SNAP benefits she usually receives at the start of every month, Suarez had to visit a pantry for the first time. She’s also cutting back on the snacks her sons eat.
The Reaching Out Community Services food pantry in Bensonhurst says it's received more calls this week from people needing help.
“I don't like saying ‘no’ to my boys…. to say no to them and to have them look at me,” she said.
About 1.8 million New Yorkers receive SNAP, nearly half a million of whom are children. That’s about one-in-five New York City residents.
“We're seeing heartbreaking desperation, frustration, high anxiety, extreme stress and worry, tensions are high, tempers are short,” Zac Hall, senior vice president of programs at the Food Bank for NYC said on WNYC’s Morning Edition on Friday.
“People are skipping meals, they're sharing that they're going into debt even to cover basic needs, put food on the table and making difficult choices between feeding themselves or their children, or let's say filling a prescription or making dinner.”
He said 90% of their 800 partner pantries were reporting increases in demand.
Gothamist previously reported grocery stores will also feel the consequences of SNAP cuts, with 50% to 80% of revenue at some stores relying on SNAP customers.
