The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York is calling on New York State to fund the Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and Nourish New York (Nourish NY) at $75 million each.
Please see our joint Executive Budget Request with Feeding New York State
**PLEASE NOTE: We have been informed by the Department of Health (DOH) the changes in HPNAP guidelines regarding the packing requirements are a packing guide and are not mandatory.**
This May, the NYS Comptroller’s Office reported that food insecurity spiked significantly in 2022 after the end of pandemic-era relief measures. Data from the food pantry network reported 70% increase in service in fiscal year 2024 compared to 2019.
New York State has the tools to alleviate the immediate reality of hunger. HPNAP and Nourish New York are vital programs that help emergency food providers combat food and nutrition security
Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) needs to be funded at $75 million
HPNAP is essential funding that supports the operation of frontline community food providers and allows them to purchase nutritious food to feed their clients. Unfortunately, the baseline budget for this program has not been updated since 2018, even though the landscape of the charitable food system has changed drastically since then. Food inflation has grown 25% since 2019 and has had a crushing impact on both individuals seeking food and the pantries themselves, as most pantries purchase the majority of food they give out with their own resources. Increased rates of food insecurity and a downturn in philanthropy in recent years has compounded pressure on emergency food providers.
Emergency food providers must also follow HPNAP nutrition guidelines to ensure the groceries provided to clients offer well-rounded meals and promote client choice. This year, these guidelines were updated to require pantries to provide an additional category of food to clients. Without additional funding from the HPNAP program to pay for this additional food, many pantries are worried they will not have the resources to meet these requirements. This will force pantries to make difficult decisions to maintain operations like cutting back services or turning down HPNAP funding to maintain their programs, or even closing entirely.
We urge New York State to recognize a new HPNAP baseline of $75 million in the Executive Budget. Food pantries need increased support from the state in order to combat rising food inflation and food insecurity across the state.
$75 million for Nourish New York
Nourish New York was established during the Covid-19 pandemic to reroute surplus food from farms to emergency food providers. The success of this program is recognized nationally as a model for agriculture support programs, reducing food waste and uniting farmers and food pantries to help feed fellow New Yorkers in need.
Nourish New York enables community food providers to purchase directly from New York-based farmers and producers. Since its inception, Nourish New York has enabled over $150M in direct food purchases to the benefit of over 4,200 farmers, producers, and fisheries. Additional funding for this program will increase access to fresh, local foods and support the work of New York growers and producers.
New York State is a leader for codifying Nourish New York as a permanent state program. We ask the state to increase the funding to $75 million.
Each day, over 3,000 community partners provide vital nutrition assistance to nearly 3 million New Yorkers struggling to afford food. Despite their tireless work, hunger and poverty continue to rise while the lines at food distributions grow longer.
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