New York lawmakers are working to expand residents’ options by allowing certain SNAP recipients to buy hot meals. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly popularly known as food stamps, provides help to people from more limited resources to buy nutritious food, although SNAP is
a federal program that is administered by state agencies, through local offices, you may qualify to be part of the SNAP program if you meet some requirements directly related to your income and economic resources.
Among the SNAP benefits recipients who are eligible for this modification of the program to be able to have access to prepared or hot meals, are those aged 60 and over, people with disabilities and homeless people, state Senator Roxanne Persaud of Brooklyn, who sponsored the legislation, plans to expand the program so that more New Yorkers have this benefit.
State Legislation Adds Hot Meals to SNAP Benefits in New York
The RMP Restaurant Dining Program aims to provide more food options to SNAP recipients, at present, the program is restricted to specific groups:
- People aged 60 and over
- People with disabilities
- Homeless people
State Senator Roxanne Persaud, representative of Brooklyn’s 19th District, has been a driving force with this initiative.Her goal is to make the program reach every community in New York City.
“My dream is for every community to have access to the Restaurant Meal Program,” Persaud said. “Someone can walk into a store in every district and say, ‘I want to use the SNAP benefits to buy a hot meal.'”
Hot Meals on EBT: NY Expands SNAP Benefits for Those in Need
Jam’it Bistro, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, is one of the first restaurants to be part of the pilot program. The Jamaican restaurant, owned by Dawn Skeete, is now receiving EBT and SNAP payments for hot meals. The new sign above the bistro says “We accept EBT and SNAP payments”, which indicates your participation in this new initiative of the program.
”We’re one of the first restaurants in New York City to get approval,” Skeete said. “It gives them the opportunity to prepare nutritious meals that they wouldn’t have been able to prepare before.”
Since being part of the pilot program, the Jam’it Bistro restaurant has received customers from various places in the city, including Harlem, Midwood and Queens, this reflects the broad appeal and potential impact of the program.
SNAP Benefits for the Elderly
María Sánchez, the director of the program at the Red Hook Adult Center, highlighted that the benefits of the program, beyond nutrition, according to Sánchez, going to eat at places like Jam’it Bistro gives people more opportunity to interact socially, which minimizes social isolation.
“Eating out, at places like Jam’it Bistro, offers seniors the opportunity to interact socially and reduces social isolation,” Sanchez said.
A more thorough analysis of the issue reflects similar initiatives and their results in other states, such as the example of the state of California, which has a very similar program that has been successful, providing low-income residents with access to nutritious meals, according to a report by the California Department of Social Services, the program has improved food security and social commitment among eligible populations.
Other States Are Following This Kind of Legislation
Several other states, including Arizona and Rhode Island, have implemented similar programs, these states have commented on benefits such as better nutrition, greater social interaction and better overall health outcomes for those who are part of this expanded benefit.
In the state of Arizona, the program has been quite beneficial for people who are street dwellers, providing them with access to hot meals that they would not otherwise have.
