Council Members Levin and Grodenchik’s Statement on Emergency Food Assistance Program Funding Doubling to $16M in Executive Budget

“Council Member Stephen Levin and I are proud to announce that the 2017 city budget will include $16 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), double the initial amount. We extend our gratitude to Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for her leadership on this life-saving issue and to our colleagues, forty-eight of whom signed on to our letter calling on the mayor to increase the funding for EFAP” said Council Member Barry S. Grodenchik.

“Food insecurity can be found in every corner of our city, and the increase to $16 million for emergency food will go very far to ensure that food pantries and soup kitchens will be better able to feed hungry New Yorkers. As we’ve said throughout the budget process, no New Yorker should have to go to bed hungry, and I applaud the decision to meet this critical and growing need,” said Council Member Stephen T. Levin, Chair of the General Welfare Committee.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program will benefit over 1.4 million people, or one in six New Yorkers, who depend on food banks and soup kitchens. New York City is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and it is imperative that individuals and families across all five boroughs have access to nutritious food.