State Budget Includes $12 M Hike in HPNAP; $13 M for Welfare Jobs Program
- Both of Hunger Action’s priorities for the year were dealt with in the recent state budget. $12 million of the TANF surplus and $1 million of general funds was allocated to a "jobs program for welfare participants". However, the Empire State Jobs bill was not approved. Of the $13 million, at least $10 million will be spent in NYC. The money must go to nonprofits, who can then place participants with "employers" (does this mean for-profits?). The budget language also refers to wage subsidy rather than job creation. We will be meeting with the Department of Labor to learn more about the program.
- In a last minute deal, $12 million of the TANF surplus was allocated to HPNAP. This came about after Governor Pataki refused to allow these funds to go to a food stamp program for adult immigrants on the grounds that it violated TANF rules. The Department of Health plans to allocate $5 million of the increase to the existing contracts with the food banks. The other $7 million will be included in the request for applicatons for special emergency food projects that DOH will be issuing Aug. 16 (see page 6 of the July issue of Grassroots). It is unclear what documentation, if any, will be required to show that these TANF dollars are being used to feed TANF-eligible individuals. Call DOH at 518 458-6298 for details. $20 Million of TANF funds were allocated to transportation. $2 million of TANF was added to SNAP WIC. SNAP Frail Elderly received a $400,000 increase. The Earned Income Tax Credit was also increased.