PEU Outreach Brings Media Spotlight on SNAP

A lot of the work that PEU does flies under the radar, but recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program that provides food-purchasing assistance to millions of New Yorkers in need, found our teams at the forefront of a massive, targeted push to help city residents stay in the know. With so much at stake for so many, area media outlets came along to learn about the changes and better understand our efforts in educating "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWD) about strict work requirements that threaten their eligibility to continue to receive benefits.

Reporters from Gothamist and News 12 Bronx joined PEU teams for walk-alongs to witness the fieldwork firsthand. By joining PEU and amplifying the importance of effort, the public not only learned of the critical impact of changes affecting them and their neighbors, but also of the everyday work we do in going door to door to meet New Yorker's where they are. The importance of SNAP canvassing, though, has been of particular importance. In addition to media interest, PEU was also joined by DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton for Bronx-based canvassing over Memorial Day weekend, going door-to-door educating impacted New Yorkers with PEU staff.

Gothamist highlighted Community Coordinator Jude Ipepe and his team canvassing in Manhattan, where they discovered younger adults and recent college grads are among the hardest hit. "Some just graduated from college. Some may be doing their internship, so they don't know because their parents have been doing all of this and making sure that they are SNAP compliant," he said. Meanwhile, News 12 Bronx spoke with Kathy Perez-White about PEU's broader mission to identify and protect vulnerable residents as her team went to multiple units and buildings in the Bronx.

The importance of this targeted push has been reflected in the attention that the media has shown as well as the scale of the outreach in advance of the June 1st deadline when changes took effect. PEU staff have already knocked on nearly 11,000 doors and placed over 25,000 phone calls across the five boroughs, stressing the importance of meeting the new requirements, and steering residents to the 718-SNAP-NOW hotline if they have questions or are in danger of losing their benefits.

While the initial June deadline has passed, the work to make sure benefits aren't lost is not over. Benefits can still be restored on a case-by-case basis; and it is never too late to comply and get help. For more information on SNAP benefits visit nyc.gov/SNAPWorkRules or call 718-SNAP-NOW for assistance.