'We're really going to struggle.' Food banks warn of latest federal cuts to SNAP benefits
The federal government will go from covering 50% of the administrative costs for SNAP benefits to just 25%.
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The CEOs of the 10 major food banks in New York State, along with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, came together at Feeding Westchester in Elmsford on Monday to issue a warning about cuts to SNAP benefit funding.
Starting on Oct. 1, the federal government will go from covering 50% of the administrative costs for SNAP benefits to just 25%.
"You can think about it in terms of funding, but how we want you to think about it is less food on tables, and less food in lunchboxes," said Kristine Borok, the president and CEO of Feeding Westchester.
"It's a cut that we're really going to struggle to weather," added City Harvest CEO Jilly Stephens.
Gillibrand's office says New York State and its counties will be on the hook to cover $168 million annually because of the change - which could lead to a delay in SNAP applications being processed and more people turning to the food banks.
"For every meal that we deliver, the SNAP program can deliver nine," said Stephens. "The food banks across New York State, and across the country are not in a position to fill the gap."
The banks say that to keep up with increased demand, they will likely have to rely on donations for extra money.
"We want to put out the message - keep stepping up, keep supporting," Borok said.
The food banks said they will also be looking to Gillibrand to keep supporting and help get some of the money back, with Stephens saying, "I'm sure there's a lot she can do."
"My job is to protect New York families," Gillibrand said. "If we have families that can't get enough to eat, that's immoral, so we're going to fight very hard on the merits, and we're going to fight politically.
News 12 reached out to the United States Department of Agriculture about the cuts and has not heard back.
