| Releases & Statements
In an August 24 th letter
to Human Resources Administration (HRA) Commissioner Verna Eggleston,
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum demanded that HRA conduct an internal
audit to determine the reasons for a sharp drop in food stamp
enrollment. Participation in the Food Stamp Program fell by more
than 18,000 from June to July, the steepest decline under the
Bloomberg administration. Contrary to comments made by HRA officials,
the decrease is not a one-time occurrence. Food stamp participation
fell in three of the last four months.
In her letter, Gotbaum
stressed the importance of maximizing food stamp enrollment, citing
high unemployment and rising use of food pantries. Gotbaum’s office
has produced numerous reports showing that HRA administrators
violate federal law by failing to allow clients to submit recertification
materials by fax or mail and failing to waive face-to-face interviews
when phone interviews are more appropriate. An audit will help
determine what steps are needed to increase participation among
working, disabled, and elderly New Yorkers.
“If participation were
at least restored to the same level as before the program was
curtailed by the Giuliani administration, it would bring in an
estimated $470 million additional federal dollars to New York
City ’s economy each year,” Gotbaum said. “It is therefore critical
that [HRA] identify more effective ways to maintain and increase
participation.”
Gotbaum pointed out that
State law requires HRA to conduct an investigation every time
a New Yorker receiving food stamps stops participating in the
program or becomes ineligible. She called on Commissioner Eggleston
to make public the top reasons why New Yorkers left the program
in the last year and to release the number of new clients enrolled
in the program each month for the last twelve months. In addition,
she urged the Commissioner to expand outreach efforts to increase
participation.
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