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A report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli says approximately 800,000 households across the state experienced “food insecurity” from 2019 through 2021. This equates to one in ten households across the Empire State.
DiNapoli raised the concern that food insecurity may grow as federal benefits lapse. “With all the challenges people are facing during these difficult times, we should ensure New Yorkers don’t go hungry,” DiNapoli said. “Our nation’s nutrition programs should be expanded to help those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families.”
A household suffers from food insecurity when it cannot, at times, access adequate food for everyone in the home due to a lack of resources, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA reported 32.1% of households with annual incomes below the official poverty line were food insecure in 2021. National rates of food insecurity were highest for households headed by single mothers at 24.3%, as well as households headed by African Americans (19.8%) and Hispanics (16.2%) in 2021.
United Way of New York State President Hugh Parry explained, “State Comptroller DiNapoli’s statement ‘we should ensure New Yorkers don’t go hungry’ is both a summary of the issue as well as a call to action. Nutrition programs are ending, and food prices are increasing which combine to endanger the vulnerable, both old and young. United Way of New York State commends the recommendations State Comptroller DiNapoli advances to address food insecurity. The system of United Ways throughout New York will continue their work at the community level to address hunger while the information and referral network, accessed by dialing the three-digit number 211, will direct people to help.”
Catholic Charities Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan added, “Since the start of the pandemic, Catholic Charities has been on the front lines of feeding hungry New Yorkers, providing nearly 11 million meals at our food pantries, community kitchens and pop-up neighborhood food pantries. Food insecurity is a challenge that affects every community, and impacts families’ ability to meet other necessary expenses such as rent and utilities. Catholic Charities is committed to working for solutions that can increase access to food for New Yorkers in need.”
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher observed, “Food insecurity knows no bounds, whether someone lives in New York City or in remote rural areas of our state. It’s imperative we have a strong food system that widens access to fresh, local food. This includes continued support for the Nourish NY and the HPNAP programs that benefit people in need and the state’s family farms. New York Farm Bureau thanks State Comptroller DiNapoli for highlighting the issue and his support for New York agriculture.”
