Advocates ask for childhood hunger relief in 2026 budget

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Hundreds of community organizations statewide want Gov. Kathy Hochul to support bills targeting childhood hunger and fund relief efforts in the upcoming 2026 Executive Budget. The call to action follows rising poverty and food insecurity in the wake of defunct pandemic-era programs that expanded Child Tax Credits, free school meals, and SNAP benefits.

The push for more child care and public assistance comes from two recent sources: One is EdTrust-New York, focusing on relevant bills from the last Legislative Session. The other is a letter from over 200 groups, including the American Civic Association, No Kid Hungry New York, and the New York StateWide Senior Action Council. You can check out that letter at the bottom of this story.

From the legislature, that letter received support in turn from Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator Rachel May, who sponsored some of the bills below.

Advocates acknowledge that the state has expanded school meals and increased funding for nutrition programs, but they say it's not enough. They are pushing for a program to give all students free meals. Universal free school meals would save families around $165 per child every month, and polls show that 77% of registered voters would back funding such an initiative. The proposed S1678A/A1941 could create universal school meals, regardless of income level.

In terms of direct food assistance, each state dollar spent on SNAP awareness and outreach receives matching federal funding. That's why the letter argues for the state to keep funding the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program. Costing over $5 million, it helps eligible New Yorkers navigate the application process. This program connects residents with benefits, helping 34,000 households in 2023.

Some New Yorkers have seen their SNAP benefits drop as low as $23 without the emergency supplemental funding. Providing a minimum $100 SNAP payout each month could help over 107,000, especially older people struggling to make ends meet on a fixed income. S7663A/A6214A would create this kind of state SNAP minimum program.

New York could also create a program that gives SNAP benefits to income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status, according to the letter addressed to Hochul. Today, over 800,000 undocumented New Yorkers can't take part in the federal food program. A food assistance fund overseen directly by the state without federal input would cost around $141 million.

The groups also want over $131 million to support Nourish New York and the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program. Those programs support local farmers and help food banks or community organizations give out more food. The letter also argued in favor of continued support for the Double Up Food Bucks program, which matches SNAP purchases for fresh produce.

S4924A/A1303A would remove income and hourly work requirements to qualify for childcare assistance, hurting some of the most needy families in New York. S4667A/A4099A would eliminate a delay between when families apply for benefits and when they receive them by presuming that all kids are eligible. And to help more families qualify, S8152/A8878A would change eligibility thresholds for child care block grant funding.

Take a look at the letter to Hochul below: