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Council member Schulman questions DOHMH on Groceries to Go program funding and implementation
3:24:16
·
118 sec
Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about the Groceries to Go program, discussing its $10 million funding allocation, eligibility criteria, and implementation details with DOHMH Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse and CFO Aaron Anderson. The conversation covers the program's impact, enrollment numbers, and funding structure.
- The program serves 3,000 people at maximum capacity, with a waiting list.
- Funding is primarily allocated to OTPS (Other Than Personal Services) for a contract with a provider.
- The program targets individuals at risk of food insecurity who also have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Lynn Schulman
3:24:16
Groceries to go, mentioned that so I wanna ask about that now.
3:24:20
The groceries to go program provides eligible New Yorkers in the and H system with monthly credits to buy groceries online for pickup or delivery.
3:24:27
The program is very popular and $10,000,000 was added to the executive plan in fiscal twenty twenty six only, to support it.
3:24:35
Given that the program is successful and that food insecurity is on the rise in New York City, why isn't this funding baselined in the plan?
Michelle Morse
3:24:44
Thank you for the question.
3:24:46
We've had an incredibly powerful impact I would say in New York City with the Groceries to Go program.
3:24:52
There's over 4,000 people that have been enrolled in the program since it was moved over to us in the health department.
3:24:59
And part of the criteria for enrolling in the program is being at risk of food insecurity, but then again also having the chronic diseases of diabetes or high blood pressure.
3:25:10
So we see this again as a program that's going to be very impactful.
3:25:14
We're excited that we'll be able to continue the program in FY twenty six.
3:25:18
And as for out years, I would have to defer to my colleagues at OMB and City Hall about ongoing funding.
Lynn Schulman
3:25:25
I mean it's for the amount of money it's like a great program and that should be baselined.
3:25:32
How many individuals are gonna be served this year?
3:25:34
I know you said 4,000 in the past with this $10,000,000
Michelle Morse
3:25:37
Our maximum enrollment at any one time is 3,000 people and we are always maxed out and in fact we often have people waiting to be enrolled in the program.
Lynn Schulman
3:25:47
Is this funding contracted out?
3:25:48
Or you do it in
Michelle Morse
3:25:49
That's correct, it's contracted through a provider who provides the grocery credits for online purchasing of groceries.
Lynn Schulman
3:25:56
Can you provide a breakdown of PS and OTPS for the 10,000,000?
Michelle Morse
3:26:02
I'll pass to my Chief financial officer for
Michael Phillips
3:26:04
that.
3:26:04
Okay.
Aaron Anderson
3:26:05
Yeah.
3:26:05
Thanks for the question.
3:26:06
It's almost entirely OTPS, the contract.
3:26:09
There's a handful of staff who work on this on our side.
Lynn Schulman
3:26:13
Okay.