By Adam Pincus
More than 9,000 residents in Corona are among 67,000 in the entire borough who are not receiving food assistance but who are entitled to it through the federal Food Stamps Program, a study by the Manhattan-based anti-poverty organization FoodChange reported.The 67,000 make up about a third of the 180,000 immigrants in the city who are not getting food stamps, leading to a loss of $162 million to the city in federal funds, the report said.Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside) said it was unacceptable that in such a rich city there were still people going to bed hungry.”We know the solution. We can end hunger in New York City,” he said. “We can implement the federal food stamp program in an effective manner.”Gioia is chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Committee of the City Council that has drafted four reports on hunger over the past five years.”This is something that if every level of government worked on could be solved in five years,” he said. “I don't mean decrease hunger. I mean eliminate it from New York.”The borough of Queens, where an estimated 43 percent are foreign-born, has barriers in language and immigration status to residents seeking food assistance, the new report found.To be eligible, immigrant applicants must have five years of qualified residency status in the country.In New York and throughout the nation, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the food benefits, whether children or adults. The legal children of undocumented parents, however, may receive Food Stamps, the report said.Many children in such a situation are often not getting the aid because their parents are concerned that they might be reported to authorities and deported.City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) said parents should not be afraid to come forward and apply.”People should feel comfortable that their privacy will be protected,” he said. Nicole Christensen, FoodChange's director of food access, said that over $600 million goes unused due to lack of awareness or fear of being labeled as poor by society. “Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of-there are health ramifications to being hungry,” she said.Residents are eligible for food stamps if they are making less than 130 percent of the poverty line in zip codes in the city.The city loses about $162 million each year because the eligible immigrants are not enrolled, among about $646 million overall lost to residents who are eligible.Jennifer Saavedra contributed to this report.Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.By Adam PincusCorona leads the city in the number of immigrants who are eligible to receive food stamps but are not receiving them, a new report by a city nonprofit revealed Monday.More than 9,000 residents in Corona are among 67,000 in the entire borough who are not receiving food assistance but who are entitled to it through the federal Food Stamps Program, a study by the Manhattan-based anti-poverty organization FoodChange reported.The 67,000 make up about a third of the 180,000 immigrants in the city who are not getting food stamps, leading to a loss of $162 million to the city in federal funds, the report said.Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside) said it was unacceptable that in such a rich city there were still people going to bed hungry.”We know the solution. We can end hunger in New York City,” he said. “We can implement the federal food stamp program in an effective manner.”Gioia is chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Committee of the City Council that has drafted four reports on hunger over the past five years.”This is something that if every level of government worked on could be solved in five years,” he said. “I don't mean decrease hunger. I mean eliminate it from New York.”The borough of Queens, where an estimated 43 percent are foreign-born, has barriers in language and immigration status to residents seeking food assistance, the new report found.To be eligible, immigrant applicants must have five years of qualified residency status in the country.In New York and throughout the nation, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the food benefits, whether children or adults. The legal children of undocumented parents, however, may receive Food Stamps, the report said.Many children in such a situation are often not getting the aid because their parents are concerned that they might be reported to authorities and deported.City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) said parents should not be afraid to come forward and apply.”People should feel comfortable that their privacy will be protected,” he said. Nicole Christensen, FoodChange's director of food access, said that over $600 million goes unused due to lack of awareness or fear of being labeled as poor by society. “Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of-there are health ramifications to being hungry,” she said.Residents are eligible for food stamps if they are making less than 130 percent of the poverty line in zip codes in the city.The city loses about $162 million each year because the eligible immigrants are not enrolled, among about $646 million overall lost to residents who are eligible.Jennifer Saavedra contributed to this report.Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
