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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Home delivered meals program details and statistics
0:17:51
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153 sec
Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez provides a detailed overview of DFTA's home delivered meals program, highlighting its importance in addressing food insecurity and social isolation among older New Yorkers. The program has seen significant growth and improvements in recent years.
- The program provides meals and social interaction for homebound older adults.
- In FY2024, 15 providers delivered 4.2 million meals to 24,600 clients.
- Combined with meals served at older adult centers, DFTA provided a record-breaking 10.3 million meals in FY2025.
- The program follows strict state guidance and is open to those who meet specific criteria.
- Meal reimbursement rates have increased to $13.78 per meal in FY2025 to meet rising costs.
- DFTA is working on enhancing meal options, increasing culturally aligned meals, and promoting high-quality, nutritious meals.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
0:17:51
I'm going to talk to you a little bit about the programs.
0:17:54
Home delivered meals program is a vital component of NYC's aging's network of services.
0:17:59
Not only does the home delivered meal program provide meals to homebound older adults, but also the interaction with the delivery person which for many of our clients may be the only direct human interaction for a day.
0:18:14
Supports are ongoing efforts to combat social isolation and again in a critical aspect of our community care approach.
0:18:25
This program continues to follow the strict guidance by the state and is open to those who meet its criteria.
0:18:32
We announced late in February from Columbia University and Robin Hood Foundation the share of older New Yorkers living in poverty.
0:18:44
It is now 25%, double the national average.
0:18:49
Because financial security remains amongst the most critical need of older adults, it is highly correlated to food insecurity.
0:18:58
NYC Aging is continually evaluating our efforts and exploring areas for improvement.
0:19:05
While workforce programs continue to be a way for older adults to avoid long term poverty, meals programs are also a lifeline to older adults struggling with financial and ultimately food insecurity.
0:19:19
This include enhancing meal options for recipients, embracing the diversity of our city by increasing the availability of culturally aligned meals, and promoting uniformly high quality nutritious meals.
0:19:34
In FY twenty four, our network of 15 home delivered meals providers delivered 4,200,000 meals to 24,600 clients.
0:19:46
Combined with meals served at OACs, NYC Aging has a record breaking 10,000,000 meals, 10,300,000 meals in FY '20 '5 underscoring the importance of these meals to older New Yorkers.
0:20:01
We're happy to mention again this year that HDM reimbursement rates have increased meal costs to $11.78 in fiscal twenty three, '13 point '7 '8 in fiscal twenty five.
0:20:16
Over the past few years, the rates have gradually increased to meet the needs of our providers serving these and preparing these critical meals.