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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Navdeep Bains, Associate Director of Advocacy and Policy at Asian American Federation
4:43:34
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173 sec
Navdeep Bains from the Asian American Federation testified about the critical issue of food insecurity in New York's Asian community. He highlighted the challenges faced by the community, including federal funding cuts, anti-immigrant policies, and economic pressures, emphasizing the need for continued city support for food security programs.
- 1 in 3 Asian residents live in low-income households, with a poverty rate twice that of white New Yorkers
- 42% of Asian older adults are low-income, making them among the city's poorest seniors
- There has been an increase in EBT food benefits theft, affecting community members with limited English proficiency and digital literacy
Navdeep Bains
4:43:34
Okay, thank you Deputy Speaker Ayala and the Committee on General Welfare, and Chair Brannan and the Committee on Finance for holding this hearing and for giving us the opportunity to testify.
4:43:44
I'm Navdeep Baines.
4:43:45
I'm the Associate Director of Advocacy and Policy at the Asian American Federation, where we proudly represent the collective voice of more than 70 member non profits that serve 1,500,000 Asian New Yorkers.
4:43:57
Food insecurity in New York's Asian community has reached a breaking point.
4:44:01
A combination of federal funding cuts, escalating anti immigrant policies, community fears of jeopardizing their immigration status because of public charge concerns, and of course wild shifts in the economy from the price of food to looming tariffs has created an untenable situation.
4:44:18
Despite the model minority stereotypes surrounding Asian Americans, the most vulnerable in our community face significant hardship.
4:44:25
One in three Asian residents live in low income households and we are twice as likely to experience poverty compared to white New Yorkers.
4:44:32
Furthermore, 42% of Asian older adults are low income making them among the city's poorest seniors.
4:44:38
Many of our member organizations rely on a combination of federal, state, and city resources to feed our vulnerable community members.
4:44:46
In these spaces where demand is increasing, organizations are having to stretch their limited resources to keep people fed.
4:44:53
In recent years, our member organizations have also seen a disturbing increase in EBT food benefits theft, and this issue is regularly brought to our member organizations, non profits working on the ground, to provide support as many people in our community have limited English proficiency and limited digital literacy.
4:45:11
In an environment where our communities are surrounded by misinformation, fear and isolation, AF believes it is more critical than ever that the city reinforce its support for addressing food insecurity by supporting the CBOs that provide these services.
4:45:25
We have several recommendations which is continue elevating the need for an urgent rollout of CHIP enabled EBT benefits cards because no New Yorker should go hungry due to preventable theft.
4:45:37
The city should continue funding a network of linguistically and culturally competent food service programs that provide alternative food benefits to immigrants.
4:45:45
The city must also remain vigilant and committed to keeping our community's data safe, ensure that non local law enforcement are not permitted into sensitive locations because we know that going in person to get services like food pantry or even just getting any government services is something our community is increasingly afraid of, of giving information over and of going in person.
4:46:04
And we must continue to have a direct line of communication between HRA and our local CBOs because our local CBOs are regularly troubleshooting benefits issues on the ground with in language support and providing culturally competent care.
4:46:17
The challenges before us are complex and we recognize there's no easy answer.
4:46:22
Your leadership in addressing food insecurity at this vital time is incredibly important and thank you so much for your work and leadership.