Challenges to Emergency Food Provision in New York City In 2013, New York City’s food pantries and soup kitchens:  Reported seeing a 10% increase in demand  While 63% reported food shortages  And 57% reported a cut in government or private funding or other contributions, wile just 11% reported increases In these circumstances, about 1.4 million New Yorkers rely on emergency food for basic nutrition.

Challenges to Emergency Food Provision in New York City, Cont. Despite the collective efforts of our city’s network of emergency food providers to fill the gap, a shortfall of approximately 100 million meals remains each year.

SNAP Can Help Fill The GAP Some Critical SNAP Facts & Findings*:  Because they can be spent only on food, SNAP benefits increase families’ food purchases more than an equivalent amount of cash assistance would.  Fruits and vegetables, grain products, meats, and dairy products comprise almost 90% of the food that SNAP households buy.  Recent research on the nationwide expansion of food stamps in the 1960s and 1970s finds that children born to poor women who had access to food stamps grew up with better health outcomes and girls grew up to be more self-sufficient than those born in counties that had not yet implemented the program.  A recent analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that SNAP kept 4.9 million people out of poverty in 2012, including 2.2 million children. • This information is based on research from Center on Budget and Policy Priorities : http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2226 and http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2226

But SNAP Also Faces Challenges  The Institute of Medicine identified several shortcomings with the current SNAP benefit allotment and noted that most household benefit levels are based on unrealistic assumptions about the cost of food, time preparation, and access to grocery stores.  So, SNAP needs to work hand-in hand with Kitchens and Pantries to help the hungry

SNAP’s Value to Households Average Monthly Benefit (October 2013 ):  Household of 1= $155 per month  Household of 3 = $465 per month

In a 12 month certification, SNAP household receives:  Household of 1 will receive $1,860  Household of 3 will receive $5,580

In a 12 month, SNAP household can buy:  Household of 1 – 634 meals  Household of 3 - 1,898 meals

Estimated Economic Impact During Economic Downturn:  Estimated Impact of SNAP Benefit for household of 1 on Economic activity = $3,380  Estimated Impact of SNAP Benefit for household of 3 on Economic activity = $9,988

The SNAP Assistance Life Cycle

After Approval, Certification period for SNAP benefits lasts from 12 – 24 months depending on household circumstances

Community Based Organization NYC Human Resource Administration

Client Outreach

Raising awareness about SNAP as a way to help address economic hardship

Educate clients about SNAP to help dismiss some false myths and stigmas

Inform those who are interested about next steps prescreen, provide direct assistance or resources by which client can apply for SNAP

Assessing Client Eligibility

Provide a quick screening to determine general SNAP eligibility

Provide in-depth screening to estimate potential SNAP benefit (using paper budget or excelbased calculator EPART)

Application Assistance Document Readiness

• Assisting client to prepare documents required for a SNAP application

Filling SNAP Applications

• Help client fill-out the SNAP application to be mailed , faxed, or brought to the SNAP Center

Making a Referral

• Refer clients to nearest SNAP Center or Community Based Organization to submit an application

Electronic Submission

• Help clients electronically submit an application via POS or Access NYC (Kiosk)

Post-Application Assistance – The Mediation Model Issues can arise after SNAP application submission, hence there is post application assistance via the Mediation Model The Mediation Model is an informal dispute settlement process which brings social service providers and HRA Staff together to clear up misunderstandings, errors, uncover concerns, and resolve issues in a client’s SNAP application or benefits

The Mediation Model is a set of protocols that HRA and NYC SNAP Task Force members have agreed to follow to make resolving issues in our client’s SNAP cases more efficient and effective

Assisting Clients to Recertify Their SNAP Case To ensure uninterrupted SNAP benefits, clients must periodically recertify their eligibility After a SNAP application is approved, the client is eligible to receive SNAP benefits for a specific time period – 12, 24, or 48 months, (this is known as the “certification period”)

Before the expiration of the Recertification is certification period, clients mandatory for all SNAP must re-establish their participants who seek to SNAP eligibility in order to continue receiving benefits continue receiving benefits. after their certification This re-establishing of period ends eligibility is “Recertification”.

SNAP Assistance Engagement Levels

Low Engagement

Mid Engagement

High Engagement

Low Engagement – Outreach and Referral Process

Low Engagement: How Food Bank Can Support You Food Bank can support you in the following ways:  Provide outreach materials to distribute to clients  Provide training to help you gain skills in best outreach practices and client engagement  Screen and help to apply clients referred to Food Bank’s Call Center @ (212) 894-8060

Mid Engagement - Screening and Simplified Application Assistance

Use flyers & posters to spread the word

Use screening tools to estimate eligibility

 Help clients prepare necessary documents;  Use simplified application submission methods like Mail Application Referral Unit (MARU) or Access NYC (Kiosk) to help your client submit application;  Refer client to POS

Mid-Engagement: How Food Bank Can Support You Food Bank can support you with:  More trainings to help build your agency’s capacity in SNAP  Ongoing technical assistance with SNAP questions

Division of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Services Mail Application & Referral Unit (MARU) PO Box 24510 Brooklyn, New York 11201

High Engagement – Intensive Application Assistance

Use flyers & posters to spread the word

Use screening tools to estimate eligibility

Help client get documents ready and electronically submit SNAP application via POS and Access NYC

Help client address barriers by utilizing Mediation Model

Help clients recertify in order to continue to receiving SNAP benefits

High Engagement: How Food Bank Can Support You Food Bank can support you with trainings, technical assistance, quality assurance, and data analysis in:  Facilitated Enrollment, POS, this includes new application and recertification methods  Using the Mediation Model to resolve client barriers

Looking Forward: Today’s Self-Service HRA has recently implemented the following initiative as apart of their planned restructuring Telephone Interview: - Applicants can apply - After submitting the application, applicants for SNAP online can select a telephone through ACCESS interview to complete NYC the eligibility interview. - Applicants now can apply online using PC - The interview will be conducted within 2- 5 Banks, with facilitators days. being available if needed

Apply Online:

Document Drop-Boxes: Client who were asked to provide required documents now can drop them off in a Drop-box at any SNAP Center At selected SNAP Centers applicants can upload and scan documents via selfservice scanners

HRA’s Self-Service PC Banks Locations NYC Borough

Center Name

Center Address

Manhattan

Washington Heights

4055 10th Avenue

Manhattan

Waverly

8-12 W. 14th Street

Bronx

Melrose

260 East 161st Street

Bronx

Concourse

1375 Jerome Avenue

Queens

Rockaway

219 Beach 59th Street

Queens

Jamaica

165-08 88th Street

Brooklyn

North Brooklyn

500 DeKalb Avenue

Brooklyn

East New York

404 Pine Street

Brooklyn

Coney Island

2857-2865 West 8th Street

Staten Island

Richmond

201 Bay Street

Looking Forward: Our Understanding of HRA Plans for SNAP Apply online

• Will provide the tools clients need to deal with their SNAP cases, including: PC Banks (Access NYC Kiosk), Scanners and copiers, telephones

Expanding Community Partners

• Expand community partner agreements to allow for client access through computers and scanners located at neighborhood locations throughout the five boroughs

One Number HRA Call Center

• All customer inquiries will be directed to one-number that offers easy to use selfservice options, automated case information and live call center agents

Looking Forward: Our Understanding of HRA Plans for SNAP, Cont. Enhance ACCESS NYC to provide an expanded client account that includes: Electronic case records Online allowing Uploading application Online clients to of required appointment and recertification view data, client scheduling submission notifications, documents abilities and stored documents

Case change requests

HRA’s Call For Community Action Provide computer and internet access Encourage clients to apply for SNAP benefits online via ACCESS NYC Help clients set-up an ACCESS NYC user account Prepare clients to receive a telephone interview and utilize self-service document return options

Q & A