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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Emma Bessire, Senior Policy Associate at Citymeals on Wheels
2:57:54
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141 sec
Emma Bessire from Citymeals on Wheels testified about the crisis of food insecurity among older adults in New York City, emphasizing the need to protect food assistance programs in light of potential federal funding cuts. She highlighted the importance of home-delivered meals and urged the city to maintain and strengthen services for older New Yorkers.
- 87% of home-delivered meal participants said the program allows them to remain in their homes
- The preliminary budget shows a $100 million cut in NYC Aging's budget, which Bessire called "unconscionable"
- Bessire advocated for baselining funding for CFC (Cooking for the Cure) at $100 million to combat rising food insecurity
Emma Bessire
2:57:54
Hi.
2:57:54
Thank you chairs, Ressler, Brandon, and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today and for giving, this crisis and federal funding the attention it deserves.
2:58:02
My name is Emma Bessier.
2:58:04
I am the senior senior policy associate at City Meals on Wheels, and I'd like to focus my comments today on the crisis in food insecurity among older adults and why the city must act to protect these programs to make sure that older homebound adults have access to food now more than ever.
2:58:19
Federal threats to staff, Medicaid, the emergency food and shelter program, as many of, our partners have cited today, as well as other programs have plunged the sector and those who depend on it into uncertainty about what programs will remain open and the future of nutrition assistance.
2:58:35
We've already heard directly from meal recipients that they're afraid their regular home delivered meals will not continue or their SNAP benefits will be reduced or lost entirely.
2:58:43
We know that without that one meal a day, hunger will increase dramatically, which is worsening which would worsen an already severe crisis of food insecurity among older New Yorkers.
2:58:53
As the city braces for federal cuts, we must prioritize those in in most need for the resources we do have.
2:58:59
Given the rapidly rising number of older New Yorkers and the years of disinvestment in aging programs, any further cuts to programs would be absolutely devastating to older New Yorkers.
2:59:08
Home delivered meals, for example, is a hugely impactful program.
2:59:12
Our recent research showed that eighty seven percent of participants said that HDM allows them to remain in their homes.
2:59:19
Eighty five percent that says say sorry.
2:59:23
Eighty five percent said that it helps them to eat more healthy, and eighty one percent said that they help them manage one or more of their health conditions.
2:59:31
Investing in this program is a smart and effective way to support older New Yorkers who will deeply feel the impact of federal cuts.
2:59:37
We urge the city council to ensure that services in the city are maintained.
2:59:41
The preliminary budget currently shows a 100,000,000 cut in NYC Aging's budget.
2:59:46
This would be absolutely unconscionable in the current federal climate.
2:59:49
Moreover, funding for CFC must be baselined at a hundred million because food insecurity has already been rising and will only continue to deepen without this line of defense.
2:59:58
Now is a time to strengthen our safety net for older adults, not weaken it.
3:00:02
As a council and the administration work to negotiate their priorities in response to this challenge to our safety net, we cannot lose sight of the needs of homebound older New Yorkers who experience hunger out of sight and behind closed doors.
3:00:14
Thank you.