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Q&A
Discussion on food pantry programs in shelters
2:46:25
ยท
99 sec
Council Member Diana Ayala inquires about food pantry programs within the shelter system, their funding sources, and how they operate. Eric Lee from Volunteers of America Greater New York provides information on how their organization manages food services in shelters.
- Funding for food in shelters comes from DHS contracts and additional sources
- Borough delegation funding used to enhance food offerings
- Caseworkers assist clients in obtaining public benefits
- Food pantries offer extra support when food stamps run short
Diana Ayala
2:46:25
Question for you.
2:46:26
The the food pantry programs in within the shelter system, are those funded through the city or are those funded through the nonprofit organizations that are running the shelter?
Eric Lee
2:46:37
So we receive funding through our DHS contracts for food for our shelters where people do not cook themselves.
Diana Ayala
2:46:45
Uh-huh.
Eric Lee
2:46:46
But at the same time, we also layer on the funding from the borough deli the Brooklyn Borough delegation to enhance it because unfortunately, the DHS contracts do not pay You know.
2:46:56
A very high amount for the food and we wanna be able to offer culturally appropriate rich nutritious fresh foods to our our people within our facilities.
Diana Ayala
2:47:05
So in in the case of an individual like the one that I referenced that was in shelter for several days, didn't have any any income, did not have a snap case open.
2:47:19
She's in a shelter where she can cook if she had the food.
2:47:25
Does in in in situations like that in in shelters that are run by your organization, are those folks automatically screened screened for food insecurity or, you know, to ensure
Eric Lee
2:47:35
that our caseworkers work with our clients to get them on public benefits.
2:47:40
If if they cook themselves or if they have facilities that can cook in there, for at least in Brooklyn, we have the ability to then have those food pantries to offer food if if their food stamps run out.
2:47:51
If they're a little short, we have that extra cushion there based upon the council support.
2:47:56
We would love to be able to offer it within also Manhattan and and the Bronx, which is why we expanded our ask this year to to those two borough delegations as well.