New York State is providing 30 million dollars in emergency food aid to families that are affected by the government shutdown. Governor Kathy Hochul announced this on Monday, saying the state would work to prevent problems with the food assistance programs.
“I am doing everything in my power to soften the blow of the destruction Republicans in Washington are inflicting on our state,” Governor Hochul said. “While I’ve said repeatedly that no state can backfill these devastating cuts, I am committed to ensuring New Yorkers do not go hungry this holiday season and am taking action to support the families suffering.”
Additionally, just last week, the Governor made an announcement about releasing 11 million dollars to support local emergency food relief.
The announcement comes as the shutdown puts some federal services on pause, including funding for nutrition and housing programs. SNAP was expected to run out of funds within days if a federal agreement was not made. This marks the first time in history that a federal administration has stopped food assistance programs during a government shutdown.
The governor has also gone ahead and created a site for New Yorkers to vocalize their frustrations.
Other officials have made statements regarding the issues with SNAP programs put on pause and impacting millions of families as well.
“These cuts aren’t just numbers, they are families in our communities who will lose coverage, go hungry, or fall deeper into poverty,” said Representative Nydia Velázquez. “I applaud Governor Hochul for standing up for New Yorkers and giving them a platform to share their stories.”
For now, the emergency aid ensures that food assistance programs will not fall apart under the loss of federal money. It is a temporary solution, but one meant to buy time until Washington finds a better one.
