New York State Budget Campaign
Take Action: Defend Food Access in New York
Washington has stepped back on hunger relief. Now, New York State must step up. Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are already putting hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers at risk of losing food assistance. Households with children, seniors, veterans, and working New Yorkers are turning to food pantries more than at the peak of the pandemic.
While federal leadership is pulling back, New York has the opportunity and responsibility to protect food access, strengthen communities, and ensure no New Yorker is left behind. City Harvest is urging Governor Hochul and state lawmakers to act boldly in the FY27 New York State Budget—and your voice matters now more than ever.
Find your state elected officials and use the resources below to contact them about state budget priorities.
What to Ask For
Strengthen Emergency Food Programs
New York’s emergency food system is facing unprecedented demand. Lawmakers must ensure food banks and pantries have the resources they need to respond.
Ask lawmakers to:
- Increase combined funding for Nourish New York and the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) to $150 million so emergency food providers can meet soaring demand across the state.
- Ensure the program remains responsive statewide
Backfill Federal SNAP Cuts
As federal SNAP support is reduced, New York must step in to protect access to food assistance for eligible households.
Ask lawmakers to:
- Restore $8.5 million for SNAP Outreach so eligible New Yorkers can enroll in and stay enrolled in SNAP with support from trained benefits experts.
- Invest $30 million in SNAP-Ed to protect nutrition education and outreach statewide to sustain proven programs that strengthen communities and improve health outcomes for millions of participants.
- Protect this essential support for food pantries and programs
Address the Root Causes of Hunger
Emergency food alone is not enough. Hunger is driven by affordability.
Ask lawmakers to:
- Invest in FY27 budget solutions that make life more affordable, including healthcare, childcare, and housing—the top cost pressures facing pantry participants.
How to Take Action
Call Lawmakers
Once you find your State Senator and Assembly Member, call their district offices. If you reach voicemail, leave a message.
Call Script
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I live in [NEIGHBORHOOD/ZIP].
I’m joining with City Harvest to urge [Senator/Assembly Member NAME] to support strong food access investments in the FY27 New York State Budget.Specifically, I’m asking for increased funding for HPNAP and Nourish NY to $150 million, for New York to backfill federal SNAP cuts through SNAP Outreach and SNAP-Ed, and for investments that address the root causes of hunger like housing, childcare, and healthcare.
Hunger is a policy choice and New York can choose better.
Thank you.
Email Lawmakers
Sample Email
Subject: Please protect SNAP and fund food access in the FY27 NYS Budget
I’m a constituent from [NEIGHBORHOOD / ZIP], and I’m joining with City Harvest to urge you to support strong food access investments in the FY27 New York State budget.
With federal SNAP cuts already harming New Yorkers, the state must step up by increasing funding to emergency food programs like HPNAP and Nourish NY to $150 million, restoring SNAP Outreach, investing in SNAP-Ed, and addressing the root causes of hunger.
Hunger is a policy choice. New York can choose better.
Thank you for your leadership.
