State of Hunger in New York City: A Growing Crisis of Cuts and Consequences

New York City’s emergency food infrastructure is under immense strain as federal, state, and city support rapidly erodes. Programs like the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) have been effectively eliminated, resulting in a combined $30 million loss, while The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) faces a potential 50% reduction, amounting to another $30 million in lost funding for frontline anti-hunger organizations. The cancellation of the SNAP-Ed program has further cut $30 million in funding for nutritional education efforts. These cuts are part of the broader fiscal restructuring under the One Big Beautiful Bill, which is projected to result in at least $10 billion in lost revenue to the New York State budget, not accounting for additional indirect losses from economic ripple effects or increased state administration costs to maintain services previously federally funded.

Frontline emergency food organizations are bracing for a resulting $90 million reduction in funding. These reductions come at the same time as a surge in demand, with pantry utilization having more than doubled since 2019. Providers are being asked to do more with less, threatening the stability of the city’s hunger relief network.

Impact on Vulnerable New Yorkers

Since the rollback of pandemic-era emergency benefits in March 2023, the cost of living has continued to climb. Rents are up 35%, grocery prices for staples like eggs have nearly doubled, and transportation and utility costs have risen 15–30%. Meanwhile, median household income has increased just 4.2%, leaving many families unable to keep pace.

This reality is reflected in the growing number of fully employed New Yorkers relying on food pantries. Historically, pantry use among this group hovered around 5%. Today, it exceeds 10%, roughly 800,000 people. When individuals working fulltime jobs need emergency food assistance just to get by, the nature of the crisis has fundamentally changed.

The situation is further compounded by sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Families of four are expected to lose an average of $220 per month (a roughly 25% reduction), and as many as 350,000 New Yorkers may lose access entirely due to new work requirements—including parents in households with children over age 14. In addition, recipients who are unable to meet these requirements after just three months are at risk of losing access to the program for a minimum of three years. These changes are presently expected to result in a staggering $870 million annual loss in SNAP benefits across NYC.

If the current government shutdown remains unresolved by November 1, nearly 2 million NYC residents could face delays in receiving vital SNAP benefits—placing even more pressure on emergency food providers and leaving families without a safety net.

The Human Toll

Martina Santos was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City at age 17 with her mother, following the loss of her father when she was just 12. Despite not finishing high school, Martina earned her GED and built a full and loving life—marrying at 19 and raising four children.

Her journey with West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) began in 2009, during a time of financial hardship and emotional struggle. A close friend introduced her to WSCAH when she was experiencing deep depression. That visit changed everything. “The quality of the food stood out immediately,” Martina recalls. “I went home smiling, carrying fresh fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains that I had chosen myself. It made me feel worthy and helped me let go of the stigma around food pantries.”

Inspired by the dignity and respect she experienced, Martina quickly became a volunteer. She was drawn to WSCAH’s welcoming community and its mission to ensure all New Yorkers have access to healthy food and supportive services. “When one person helps another, you can see joy light up their face,” she says.

Over the past 14 years, Martina has witnessed WSCAH’s growth—from a single distribution site to more than 30 across the city, including home deliveries to over 1,500 households. Today, she proudly serves as a WSCAH Board Member, continuing to volunteer and receive food from the pantry. “Being on the Board means the world to me,” she shares. “It deepens my connection to the work and to the customers we serve with dignity, respect, and kindness. Everyone deserves access to healthy food.”

The vital work that WSCAH and so many of our colleagues do to alleviate the daily struggles for our community is increasingly under strain. The human toll is growing more visible each day. Families are making impossible choices between rent, medicine, and food. Seniors are skipping meals to stretch fixed incomes. Children arrive at school hungry, struggling to concentrate. These are not isolated incidents—they are daily realities for nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers. As federal and state supports erode, the burden is shifting to communities, nonprofits, and volunteers who are already stretched thin. The urgency to act has never been greater.