How Federal Cuts to SNAP Could Impact Food Security in NYC: What You Need to Know

Food and housing are closely linked. As NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park points out, when people face a choice between buying food or paying rent, food often wins. This puts a strain on affordable housing.

This Fourth of July, nearly 3 million New Yorkers might find out they could lose some or all of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This program helps families afford food. A proposed budget measure from Senate Republicans could shift significant SNAP costs to states, including a $2.1 billion burden for New York.

The proposed legislation would impose stricter work requirements on many SNAP recipients. If someone doesn’t meet the requirement to work 80 hours a month, they could lose their benefits for three years. Activists warn these changes will be tough on those in the gig economy, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

Commissioner Park expressed her concern. She said, “Many people hear work requirements and think it’s fair to encourage employment, but it’s really designed to punish people.” The government’s criteria can be tough. For example, a caregiver might lose benefits if their client is hospitalized and they work fewer hours.

The current SNAP benefit for a family of four is about $32 a day. Park emphasizes this isn’t enough. “It’s not meant to cover all needs,” she explains, as families juggle high costs for housing and healthcare.

Many fear that if SNAP benefits are cut, it will lead to increased homelessness. Food and housing security are already delicate for many families. The bill is also looking at major cuts to public housing, which could add to the struggles of low-income households.

Looking ahead, changing benefits for caregivers could leave parents unable to provide for their children. Leaving a young child alone is not an option, and daycare can be costly.

The impacts don’t stop there. Proposed cuts to SNAP could affect immigrants too. Currently, legal immigrants must live in the U.S. for five years to access SNAP. Stripping away their benefits will just put more pressure on food pantries and shelters, which are already stretched thin.

These proposed cuts may be part of a broader strategy. Some argue they are aimed at funding tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy. If cuts are approved, New York City’s Department of Social Services will face tough choices on how to adapt.

Data from the Urban Institute highlights that food insecurity affects about 10.5% of households in the U.S., demonstrating this problem isn’t just local but national.

As discussions continue, it’s clear that cuts to SNAP and housing support could ripple through many lives, affecting not just individuals but families and communities as well.



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