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.

Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger said, “Considering the state of our economy and the rising tide of hunger in our city, it is both morally and economically wrong not to fully utilize this new provision which would allow hungry individuals who are looking for work to receive the food they need. Individuals – with or without children – still need to eat. By not accepting the waiver, New York City is refusing a life line paid for by the federal government. As anyone trying to find work in this economy could understand, it’s even more difficult to find a job when you’re hungry. Wasting city dollars to create make work jobs instead of actively accepting federal benefits that promote true work and self-sufficiency is the ultimate lose-lose.”