QUESTION
How is the Community Food Connection (CFC) program adapting to decreased funding in fiscal year 25 and beyond?
1:33:11
·
5 min
The officials address the projected funding reduction for the Community Food Connection (CFC) program, detailing strategies to continue operations and reallocate resources.
- The Department of Social Services is working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to secure appropriate funding levels.
- Food pantries and community kitchens receive annual allocations, with no direct waitlist for funds managed by the Department.
- Monthly allocation reports help food pantries monitor spending, with potential reallocation of funds from underspending pantries to those in need.
- Increased demand in certain districts, particularly with an influx of asylum seekers, highlights the challenge of sustenance with reduced funding.
Diana I. Ayala
1:33:11
This drops to just 25,800,000 in fiscal year 2025 and then 20,900,000 in fiscal year 2627.
1:33:20
That's a pretty essential reduction.
1:33:22
How will this program continue its current operations without additional funding added in fiscal year 25 and beyond, especially given both the increased need in the city and the higher cost of food.
Molly Wasow Park
1:33:34
We're really committed to the CFC program, absolutely recognized the vital role that it plays in communities, and we're working very closely with OMB on the out of your funding.
Diana I. Ayala
1:33:45
To add additional resources,
Molly Wasow Park
1:33:47
we're courting to make sure that we're able to move forward with the program at the appropriate level.
1:33:53
Yes.
Diana I. Ayala
1:33:54
Is there currently a wait list?
Molly Wasow Park
1:33:57
So the way the program works is that we make allocations to individual food pantries and community kitchens.
1:34:07
And they for an annual basis, they then place orders for groceries through our centralized vendor.
1:34:15
So there isn't a wait list for funds because we've allocated out the year's funds for providers.
1:34:23
I suppose it's possible that individual food pantries or community kitchens would maintain a wait list, but that wouldn't be something we're directly involved in.
Diana I. Ayala
1:34:30
Alright.
1:34:31
But if the CSC providers need more food, then they have been allotted for what is the process and the time frame for them to get approval to order more food.
Molly Wasow Park
1:34:40
I'm gonna ask good.
1:34:40
First deputy commissioner Barry to speak yet.
Jill Berry
1:34:44
So we are now monitoring and providing food pantries with monthly reports on their allocations.
1:34:50
So that they can see how far along that they are in their allocation process, whether they're spending over or under their allocations.
1:34:59
We do reach out to those providers that are either under or overspending to understand sometimes there are reasons for that.
1:35:06
There may be other funding.
1:35:08
They receive later in the year, so they're using up their CFC front allocation until that is available.
1:35:15
So that is one way that we're monitoring it.
1:35:17
The other thing we do is as the fiscal year comes to a close, we're looking at what the allocations are that are left.
1:35:24
If there are pantries that are under spending and they confirm that they will underspend for the year, We take those funds and we reallocate them to pantries that are in need of funding, and that happens towards the end of the fiscal year, so it'll happen in about May June.
Diana I. Ayala
1:35:41
Are there food pantries that are underspending?
1:35:43
I mean, I I don't know.
1:35:44
I think in my district, I've seen a significant increase.
1:35:47
And we've actually been very purposeful here in the council and ensuring that we didn't touch any of our food network funding because we understand that the need has increased especially in communities that have seen an influx of asylum seekers because they just don't like the food that is that is being served to them at the shelters, or don't find it, you know, to be enough, to sustain them.
1:36:11
So I yeah.
Jill Berry
1:36:14
Yeah.
1:36:14
It's it's not typical to see a lot of underspending unless there is a they are holding on to their CFCs but their CFC allocation because they had another allocation that they needed to spend sooner.
1:36:27
Whether from private donors or state allocation Yeah.
1:36:30
Other, but it is something we look at.
Diana I. Ayala
1:36:32
Yeah.
1:36:32
I I just I don't I don't I don't I don't see, and I know that, you know, listen.
1:36:36
These are the decisions that are made, but I I I I don't see how we would ever just could could ever justify a, you know, budget such a significant budget cut to such an important program that is ensuring.
1:36:49
I mean, I'll tell you that the lines in my district are so long.
1:36:54
They're so so long.
1:36:55
And I you know, I just assumed that after, you know, things stabilized, after the the beginning of the pandemic that the lines would you know, become smaller and they've only grown.
1:37:08
So that's that's that's pretty, you know, consistent with what we're hearing from you as well today regarding the increased, you know, number of applications for both cache and snap applications.
1:37:19
Right?
1:37:20
Is it there's a a huge demand for these services.
1:37:25
And that's why, you know, it's very difficult to comprehend why there would even be a discussion about cutting, you know, those.
1:37:34
I think the only way to really help eradicate poverty is is through workforce development and ensuring the folks have the infrastructure to, you know, again, become and and and stay self sufficient and unless we're equally applying funding to those, you know, to to meet that that need as well, then we're gonna continue to be on an upward trend.
1:37:59
And if that's the case and we're not committing the dollars to workforce development or other viable options, and I think that there has to be a bigger conversation about why we shouldn't be cutting these safety net programs that are keeping people fed.
1:38:13
You know?
1:38:14
This is a that's a really, really big deal.
1:38:18
The in the preliminary plan, there was also baseline savings of 3,200,000 Starting in fiscal year 26th from the We Care program efficiencies.
1:38:26
We Care is a program that serves cash assistance clients with a medical and mental health barrier to employment.
1:38:32
The program provides individuals vocational rehabilitation services to help engage them in work related activities.
1:38:38
They lead to employment.
