Skip to Content Skip to Naviation
Donate

Joint Statement in Response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address

January 16, 2025

Today, we, the CEOs of City Harvest, Food Bank For New York City, and United Way of New York City, join together in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address. We commend her vision and commitment to addressing New York’s affordability crisis while advancing initiatives that will meaningfully improve the lives of millions of New Yorkers.

We applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to fund free breakfast and lunch for 2.7 million students, a critical step in addressing food insecurity and supporting student success. This monumental investment in universal school meals, in conjunction with a number of key initiatives to get money back to families through enhanced tax credits, are paramount to building food security and making our City more affordable for millions of New Yorkers.

Further, we commend the governor for proposing bold investments and goals for childcare that can be transformative for the millions of New Yorkers that made it loud and clear that the rising cost of childcare is driving them to food pantries. Consistent with data from the True Cost of Living report showing that childcare and housing are among the expenses that increased the most for families, this is an investment that is critical for building food security. Governor Hochul’s historic commitment to achieving universal childcare access is evident in her proposed $110 million investment to build and repair childcare facilities and $10 million in additional low-income support. However, we urge further investment in afterschool programs, which are equally critical for making New York affordable and sustainable for working families.

Her initiatives to streamline housing development, expand supportive housing, and address barriers to stability, all of which build off of NYC’s City of Yes model, are encouraging steps toward addressing the housing crisis. However, we must go further by increasing funding for housing vouchers, which are essential for families who face food insecurity and are at risk of displacement.

As representatives of organizations deeply embedded in communities across New York City, we urge the Governor and state leaders to take bolder steps in the upcoming budget cycle to:

  • Strengthen Food Security: Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month and expand funding for critical programs like the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and Nourish New York.
  • Invest in Childcare Access: Accelerate progress toward universal childcare, including robust support for afterschool programs to ease the financial burdens on working families.
  • Expand Housing Supports: Boost housing voucher funding to address the urgent needs of families facing displacement and homelessness.

As was stated multiple times in the State of the State speech, our organizations also believe that together, we can achieve these priorities and build a stronger, more equitable New York for all. To make this vision a reality, we need your voice. Join us in advocating for a budget that prioritizes affordable access to food, childcare, and housing.

Sign our petition to show your support and help us amplify the call for action.

We are committed to working alongside the Governor and her administration to ensure every New Yorker has access to the resources they need to lead a healthy, dignified life.

Sincerely,

Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City

Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank For New York City

Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest

Back to top