QUESTION
What has been done to address the backlog in SNAP application processing and improve the system for the future?
1:33:16
·
105 sec
The NYC Mayor's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reengineered the SNAP application process, including technological investments and state waivers, but faces challenges due to the growing poverty in the city.
- The SNAP application process has been reengineered, including technological improvements and obtaining waivers from the state.
- Additional resources have been invested in the cash assistance program to manage the growing need.
- The city is experiencing a growing number of poor residents, contributing to the rapid increase in applications and backlog issues.
- An underlying challenge remains even as the backlog is being addressed, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions.
Diana Ayala
1:33:16
During the November plan hearing, Rofaghi, you told us that the committee that the SNAP program had and you told the committee that the SNAP program had addressed all the backlogs.
1:33:26
Now I saw this morning that the mayor coincidentally put out Mhmm.
1:33:31
You know
Jacques Jiha
1:33:32
I told you so.
Diana Ayala
1:33:34
It's nice to pat ourselves in the back.
1:33:37
But it doesn't negate the fact that people that these applications were taking forever to be processed.
1:33:44
And so there's a distinction between, you know, merely going through the entire exhausting the entire list.
1:33:50
And making changes to ensure that whatever delays were in place that were getting in the way of folks getting their services have been remediated.
1:34:01
And so I'm more concerned about what has been done that is sustainable moving forward to ensure that we're not continuing to see delays.
1:34:11
In slab and cash application processing.
Jacques Jiha
1:34:14
As I said, we have reengineering the entire process including getting waivers from the state invested in technology provided staff.
1:34:26
But we also have to admit we have a challenge
Sandy Nurse
1:34:29
Yeah.
Jacques Jiha
1:34:29
It is that we have a growing number of poor people in this city.
1:34:34
We just added a ton of resources to the catch assistance program.
1:34:38
Yeah.
1:34:38
Okay.
1:34:39
And this this big growing so fast is because you have a growing number of poor people.
1:34:46
In the city.
Gale Brewer
1:34:46
Yeah.
Jacques Jiha
1:34:47
So and as you, you know, get more application, that's quite one of the things I was driving.
1:34:53
The backlog.
1:34:54
But as I said, we are addressing the backlog, but there is an underlying problem.
Diana Ayala
1:34:57
Yeah.
1:34:58
Yeah.
1:34:59
If we were investing in more workforce development, that would help.