Part of the Food Policy Community Spotlight Series
Name: Hunger Solutions New York
What they do: Food insecurity plagues more than 14 percent of New York State’s residents. Nutrition assistance programs help to alleviate hunger but are underutilized for a number of reasons, including a lack of understanding about how they work, unfamiliarity with program eligibility, lack of access, and difficulty filling out applications. Hunger Solutions New York is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating hunger by using a four-pronged approach:
- Maximizing participation in, and the effectiveness of, federally funded nutrition assistance programs including:
- Funding community-based organizations to provide education, support and application assistance
- Consulting with, training, and providing resources to non-profit organizations, school districts and other agencies to make their anti-hunger efforts more efficient and effective
- Advocating for policies and legislation to improve nutrition assistance programs at the state and federal level, and developing public policy recommendations to help significantly reduce hunger in New York State
How they do it: Hunger Solutions New York has two core programs that offer free and confidential assistance to those in need: 1) SNAP Help Long Island focuses on application assistance and outreach for SNAP in Nassau and Suffolk Counties; 2) the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) connects hungry New York State residents in almost every county with nutrition assistance programs and also works to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program, which provide nutritious meals to school-aged children.
With respect to services, Hunger Solutions New York specializes in the creation of materials and resources community-based organizations and agencies can use to develop and support their anti-hunger efforts, and provides them with assistance, information, and resources regarding policies and legislative action regarding nutrition assistance programs. The organization annually develops federal, state and local public policy recommendations to significantly reduce the incidence of hunger in New York State based on extensive consultation with federal and state administering agencies, partner organizations and local providers.
Mission: To promote: 1) Awareness of hunger within the local community; 2) Awareness about programs that address chronic and crisis hunger; 3) Full participation in hunger assistance programs for all who are eligible; 4) Public policies that contribute to ending hunger; 5) Public awareness of the economic benefit of anti-hunger programs
Latest project/campaigns: Development of the Federal Policy Priorities and New York State Policy Priorities reports
Major Funding: U.S Department of Agriculture, NYC Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, NYS Office of Children and Family Services, NYS Department of Health, The Food research and Action Center, Walmart Foundation, Albertsons Companies Foundation, Share our Strength
Profit/nonprofit: Nonprofit
Interesting fact about how it is working to positively affect the food system: According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, nearly one in four potentially eligible New Yorkers is not receiving SNAP benefits. Other nutrition assistance programs, including the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Meals Program and the National School Lunch Program, are also underutilized. Hunger Solutions New York bridges the gap by bringing awareness and technical assistance to those in need in order to increase participation in SNAP and other nutrition assistance programs. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, NOEP helped 32,768 New York households receive SNAP benefits.
FACT SHEET:
Location:
14 Computer Drive East
Albany, New York 12205
Core Programs:
-SNAP Help Long Island
-Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP)
Number of staff: 22
Areas served: New York State
Year Started: 1985
Organization Director, Manager or CEO: Linda Bopp
Contact Information: info@hungersolutionsny.org
