Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, elected officials, and advocates called on Mayor Bloomberg to change course on his decision to refuse a provision of the federal stimulus bill that would bring millions of dollars into the city. President Obama’s stimulus package includes a provision that suspends the limit on how long able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can receive Food Stamps—now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—while they look for work.

Soup Kitchen International, the creators of the Zagat-rated soups of Al Yeganeh, the legendary soup man who inspired the “Soup Episode” on Seinfeld, donated 800 gallons of soup to three soup kitchens

The media event is also being held to raise awareness of the fact that donations are only a small measure to help the hunger problems in the tri-state area. The New York City Coalition Against Hunger and World Hunger Year both emphasized that the government must increase the availability of food stamps, WIC, affordable housing and other programs.

On March 7, 2009, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with elected officials and advocates to call on Governor Paterson to accept a statewide provision in the federal recovery bill that would extend Food Stamp benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) through September 30, 2010. ...read more

A new survey released by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum finds that an automated system launched as a pilot in 1997 by the city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) is unreliable, and may be causing unnecessary delays for New Yorkers accessing public benefits. With unemployment rising and demand for public benefits expected to increase, HRA eligibility specialists report that unreliable technology, insufficient staff, and language barriers prevent them from effectively serving clients.