Anti-hunger advocates praised Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appointment today of Robert Doar to head the City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA), the agency that administers food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, and other social service programs.

Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, offered the following statement:

“We are pleased that Mayor Bloomberg chose Robert Doar to head HRA. Many advocates and service providers have had the privilege to work with Commissioner Doar in the years he served the State of New York. We know him to be a smart, dedicated, competent straight-talker.”

“Most original welfare reform efforts focused almost exclusively on the work status of women. Commissioner Doar has been a national leader in a growing movement – which we strongly support – to increase the focus on how men are involved with future welfare reform and poverty reduction efforts.”

“Anti-hunger advocates are particularly thankful that, in his tenure with the State, Commissioner Doar helped increase statewide access to the Food Stamp Program, reinforcing the vital message that food stamp benefits provide work support that enable people to move towards economic independence.”

“We haven’t always agreed with Commissioner Doar’s past positions. For instance, we adamantly opposed his support of Governor George Pataki’s proposal to enact “full family sanctions” on families that receive public assistance. That proposal, rejected by the State Legislature, would have punished children if their parents failed to comply with program rules. But more importantly, not only did Commissioner Doar amicably agree to disagree with advocates on certain issues, he consistently worked to find common ground over which we could collectively move forward.”

“Commissioner Doar will be taking over HRA at an exciting and important time, when the Mayor is moving to address the city’s growing poverty. We hope Commissioner Doar will rapidly adopt three priorities:

1. 1) Removing remaining City barriers to accessing the Food Stamp Program
2. 2) Enhancing customer service for all HRA clients; and
3. 3) Improving welfare reform activities so that they do more to reduce poverty and place people in long-term, living wage jobs.”