Joint Statement in Response to the New York City Budget

City Harvest, Food Bank For New York City, and United Way of New York City Respond to New York City Budget, Call for Critical Investments in Food Security

July 2, 2025

With the Senate majority approving cuts to important food and nutrition programs like SNAP, it’s evident now more than ever that New York City needs to prioritize food security. The city’s newly adopted budget for fiscal year 2026 kept emergency food funding steady, maintaining support for Community Food Connection at about the same level as last year. We asked City officials to increase and lock in funding at $100 million — a small amount (just 0.09% of the total $115.9 billion city budget) that would have helped provide 43 million pounds of healthy food to people who need it most.

Holding the line does not meet the current moment and instead puts the most vulnerable New Yorkers at great risk. Since 2019, pantry visits have increased by 82 percent, the cost of food has risen 25 percent, and food charities have faced millions of dollars in funding cuts from the federal government. 

In any year, we are grateful that anti-hunger programs are protected, but we are also deeply aware that a flat emergency food supply will be strained when federal policy decisions continue to drive up demand for emergency food. Funding is critically important for the 700+ food pantries that are working to serve more New Yorkers with less support from the federal government.

Thank you to the thousands of New Yorkers who signed our petitions and sent letters to their elected officials, and to the food pantry leaders who rallied with us on the steps of City Hall and testified to City Council. These leaders balanced the urgent work of feeding their communities with countless hours of advocacy in City Hall and beyond. 

New Yorkers are resilient. They find ways to navigate stagnating wages, a rising cost of living, and political uncertainty with grit and determination. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders in City government to ensure that together we meet the level of determination and resilience of its people by investing in programs that fuel New York City.