Hunger Action Network of New York State

Hunger Alert

Hunger Alert- JUNE 2002 | Alert on State Minimum Wage | Hunger Alert- APRIL 2002 |

November 2002 Hunger Alert

In this edition:

* HANNYS' New Anti-Hunger Survey Shows Increased Emergency Food Use
* TANF Reauthorization Still Up in the Air
* Help Hunger Action Network When You Do Your Holiday Shopping Online!
* Send Legislative Leaders a Holiday Post Card on State Revenues - Order Now
* The Annual People's State of the State Rally Tues. Jan. 7th
* Hunger Action Network / ES2 Lobby Day on Tues. Feb. 11th
* Hunger Action Network, Celebrates 20 years, Monday, December 9th

HANNYS' New Anti-Hunger Survey Shows Increased Emergency Food Use

As part of the annual Thanksgiving Fast and Action Against Hunger, more than 45 organizations and 300 individuals are joining together on Monday, November 25th to draw attention to the problem of hunger and to push for solutions. Events are happening throughout the state. A new survey of more than 200 EFPs by HANNYS found a 12% increase in Emergency Food Program use comparing data from the months of September 2001 and September 2002 alone. Excluding New York City, there was a 27% increase in program utilization comparing September 2001 and September 2002. More than 80% of programs statewide saw an increase in the working poor, with 71% of the programs reporting an increase in the number of guests citing job loss. Two-thirds reported an increase in the number of children using their program, and more than 87% expect the demand for emergency food to increase in the next six months. Many of the programs are also reporting a decrease in monetary (57%) and other donations (34%) such as food. Call HANNYS for more information. NYC Coalition Against Hunger is also releasing a survey documenting hunger and EFP use in New York City; call 212-825-0028 for more information on that survey.

TANF Reauthorization Still Up in the Air

With the November elections results putting the Republicans in the majority in the Senate, Republican Senator Grassley from Iowa will take over Chairing the important Finance Committee, taking the place of Senator Baucus (D-MT). Post-election developments include the House and Senate approving a Continuing Resolution that TANF through March 31. This gives states authority to spend money and carry on program activities for the first quarter of the next year. Congress could also take this time to hold hearings, draft legislation, and pass a bill. Congress could decide in March 2003 either to extend the current TANF program for multiple years (probably two or three) with few changes or to carry out a full reauthorization for five years, making substantial changes.

President Bush indicated a while back that he would prefer a one-year extension, giving Congress time to make the changes that he wants. Sen. Grassley has recently called for increased work requirements, part of the Bush plan. According to the NCC, these factors, combined with Republicans holding onto control of the House, would indicate that a full reauthorization is still a possibility, unless other issues such as war, national security, and tax cuts are given priority.

In New York State, our focus through March will include continuing to urge Senators Clinton and Schumer to block any and all damaging proposals including increased work requirements, superwaiver authority, marriage promotion initiatives, while at the same time pushing for improvements such as increased access to education and training, job creation, child care and supporting individuals with barrier removal.
Help Hunger Action Network When You Do Your Holiday Shopping Online!

You can financially support Hunger Action Network - at no extra cost - by doing your Holiday shopping and buying your favorite products online at www.hungeractionnys.org . Up to 15% of your purchase goes directly to helping us work in New York State to end hunger. The shopping village includes more than 100 brand-name retailers, such as Amazon.com®, Dell.com, ToysRUs.com, L.L. Bean, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(SM), OfficeMax.com and more. There is no additional cost to purchase from our shopping village. Just go to our web site at www.hungeractionnys.org, click the online shopping button that says Greater Good, and up to 15% of every purchase you make will support Hunger Action!

Send Legislative Leaders a Holiday Post Card on State Revenues - Order Now

NYS is facing a $6 billion or more deficit in next year's state budget. In the past such budget deficits have been solved through drastic cuts in spending in human service and health care spending, along with increases in tuition at state colleges. On each sheet of 8.5 by 11, we have printed up three postcards to be sent to the Governor, Sen. Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker urging them to avoid cuts in such programs and instead raise revenues through closing corporate tax loopholes and making the state income tax fairer. Let us know if you would like postcards to distribute at your EFP, community group, or faith community. The first 100 sets of postcards are free. If possible, we ask for a $5 donation per 100 after the first set to help with printing and shipping costs. Please contact our Albany office.

The Annual People's State of the State Rally Tues. Jan. 7th

Our annual alternative to the Governor's State of the State address will highlight the growing hunger and homelessness in New York; promote the Economic Security Campaign (minimum wage, health care, child care, welfare grants); and, support the need for increased state revenues. The rally will take place at noon on the day before the Governor's formal address.

Hunger Action Network / ES2 Lobby Day on Tues. Feb. 11th

The projected $6 to $10 billion state budget deficit is likely to make this a hard budget year. However, the issue of raising the shelter allowance for welfare participants will be on the table, since the Governor has been forced to make a proposal in response to the decades-old Jiggetts lawsuit challenging the existing housing allowances as way to low to support families with children. We will need to mobilize anti-hunger advocates across the state to push for a fair budget. We will be working in coalition with other anti-poverty, labor and faith organizations to promote fair revenues. We want to build a strong grassroots effort in Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties to educate Sen. Bruno on these issues.

Hunger Action Network, Celebrates 20 years, Monday, December 9th

The Hunger Action Network of NYS, will celebrate 20 years of working to end hunger on Monday, December 9th. The event takes place at the First Unitarian Universalist Society on 405 Washington Avenue in Albany. The event will honor a number of Capital District activists and organizations for their long time efforts to end hunger. Honorees include: Deb Catozzi, former Associate Director, Hunger Action Network; Donna DeMaria, Homeless Action Committee; Bishop Howard Hubbard, Albany Roman Catholic Diocese; Doris Jordan, Trinity Institution; Mark Quandt, Executive Director of Food Bank of NENY; Dawn Primeau, former Director of Food Pantries of the Capital District; Bob Stern, staff member of NYS Assembly Food Farm and Nutrition Task Force; and, the Solidarity Committee.

There will be a reception with light refreshments and live music from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M.. The awards ceremony will be from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M.. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the door. There is also a journal being compiled for the event. For more information call 518 434-7371.