SNAP4All Coalition Applauds Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council Recommendations to Support a State Food Benefit for Households with Children that are Ineligible for SNAP Based on Citizenship Status
December 18, 2024 — The SNAP4All New York coalition, a broad network of over 80 organizations advocating for a state-funded food assistance benefit to income-eligible New Yorkers who are ineligible for SNAP due solely to their immigration status, celebrates the 2024 Recommendations and Progress Report issued by the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC). Among the Council’s housing, tax and public benefit proposals is a groundbreaking initiative to create a state food benefit for households with children that are ineligible for SNAP based on citizenship status—a critical step towards addressing food insecurity among some of New York’s most vulnerable families. CPRAC was established by Governor Hochul through the Child Poverty Reduction Act, which set an ambitious goal to cut child poverty in half by 2031.
CPRAC’s recommendation recognizes the disproportionately high rate of food insecurity among non-citizen households and exposes the systemic barriers that immigrant New Yorkers face in accessing federal SNAP benefits. Despite contributing over $3 billion in state and local taxes, as well as $30 billion in taxes to federal public assistance programs, these families are unjustly excluded from the food and nutrition support they need.
The SNAP4All Coalition extends its gratitude to CPRAC for taking steps to ensure that New York families with children currently excluded from SNAP will be able to receive assistance with accessing food. We also recognize that CPRAC’s recommendations are a first step in a larger effort to ensure that all income-eligible New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, will have access to food assistance benefits. This includes people that are outright ineligible for SNAP, as well as those who are eligible only after arbitrary half-decade long waiting periods. Our families, neighbors, and fellow hard-working members of the job force deserve access to food and should not face barriers due solely to their citizenship status.
We urge the Governor to demonstrate bold leadership by including this vital recommendation in her FY25-26 Executive Budget. Additionally, we urge policymakers to build upon CPRAC’s recommendations and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, are able to access food assistance benefits. We must ensure that we are part of a New York that supports all of its residents.