Budget Bill Would Provide $2 million More Than Governor’s Increase; Advocates Praise Speaker Silver for Commitment to the State’s Most Vulnerable

The budget bill just passed by the New York State Assembly proposes $2 million more than the funding increase previously proposed by Governor Elliot Spitzer for the main source of State funding for New York State’s more than 2,000 charitable food pantries and soup kitchens.

Funding for the State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) reached a previous peak of $24.44 million in the 2002-2003 program year. As a result of cuts proposed by then-Governor George Pataki, funding fell to $23.19 million this year (the 2006-2007 program year). For the next year (program year 2007-2008), Governor Spitzer has requested $28.34 million in funding, and the Assembly bill included $30.34 million, which would be $2 million (7%) higher than the Governor’s proposal.

If the Governor’s proposal were enacted into final law, HPNAP funding would be ($5.15 million) 22% higher than this year and ($3.9 million) 16% higher than the previous peak funding level. If the Assembly level of funding is enacted as part of the final budget deal, HPNAP funding would be $7.15 million (31%) higher than this year and ($5.9 million) 24% higher than the previous peak level.

In response to this proposal, Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, an umbrella group for the more than 1,200 pantries and kitchens based in the city, said the following:

“A few weeks ago, when Governor Spitzer proposed a 22% increase in funding for this vital program, we were delighted. Now that the Assembly has proposed a 31% increase, we are doubly-delighted. We greatly thank Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver – and all the Assembly members who voted for the bill – for standing up for the low-income New Yorkers who are forced to utilize food pantries and soup kitchens, making them among are state’s most vulnerable residents. Given that the number of people forced to use such agencies statewide is skyrocketing, and that funding has been reduced or stayed flat in recent years, we urge the Governor and the State Senate to agree with the Assembly on this higher level of funding.”