Policy & Advocacy

Hunger Solutions New York annually develops federal and state public policy recommendations to significantly reduce the prevalence of hunger in New York State. Based on extensive consultation with federal and state administering agencies, partner organizations and local providers, these recommendations call for actions that will:

While charitable and voluntary contributions to this effort are very important, we believe that it is a governmental responsibility to ensure that all New Yorkers are able to secure adequate food and nutrition.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented demand for access to federal nutrition assistance programs. Federal and state governments responded swiftly with program flexibilities and increases that had a measurable impact on food insecurity. Now, a focused and coordinated long-term response that makes permanent the most impactful lessons learned during the pandemic is needed to ensure all eligible New Yorkers can receive the food assistance they need.

This public policy platform makes recommendations for protections and improvements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); school meal programs including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP); out-of-school programs including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Pandemic-EBT; and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).