GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that millions of dollars in funding, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will support the State's health and human services infrastructure and programs. Low-and moderate-income individuals and families in New York's Upstate counties will receive an estimated $400 million in additional Food Stamp benefits from ARRA funds.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Governor David A. Paterson today announced that millions of dollars in funding, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ( ARRA ), will support the State’s health and human services infrastructure and programs. Low-and moderate-income individuals and families in New York’s Upstate counties will receive an estimated $400 million in additional Food Stamp benefits from ARRA funds. Beginning with the April monthly allotment, households across New York participating in the State’s Food Stamp program will see an increase of 13.6 percent in their current monthly Food Stamp benefit.
In addition, Governor Paterson announced that $26.5 million in ARRA funding has been awarded to support construction and expansion projects of federally qualified health centers, and to support services and payments for the increase in uninsured patients seeking care. President Obama announced the release of more than $500 million in grants authorized by ARRA to support community health centers across the country. Over the next two years, ARRA will be used to invest a total of $2 billion in community health centers to support renovations and repairs, investments in health information technology, and critically needed health care.
“In the face of an economic downturn, these timely new funds will help more than a million struggling households in New York keep healthy food on the table, at the same time putting new federal dollars into the economy when the infusion of money is greatly needed,” said Governor Paterson. “This funding also supports my primary and preventive care agenda by providing funds for community health centers across the State. I thank President Obama and New York’s congressional delegation for their work to support vital health care services for all New Yorkers, and especially for our State’s most vulnerable populations during these difficult and challenging economic times.”
Food Stamp Funding
Beginning with the April allotment, low-and moderate-income households across New York that participate in the State’s Food Stamp Program will see an increase of 13.6 percent in their current monthly Food Stamp benefit. The maximum monthly Food Stamp benefit for a family of four will increase from $588 to $668. The minimum monthly benefit will also be increased from $14 to $16. In addition, low-and moderate-income individuals and families in New York City will receive approximately $837 million in Food Stamp dollars, and those in Long Island will receive approximately $51 million from ARRA funds.
The estimated cumulative impact of this funding that will go to individuals and families in Upstate counties will total approximately:
Albany, $13.5 million Allegany, $2.5 million Broome, $12.3 million Cattaraugus, $4.3 million Cayuga, $4.1 million Chautauqua, $10 million Chemung, $5.9 million Chenango, $3.3 million Clinton, $4.8 million Columbia, $2 million Cortland, $2.8 million Delaware, $2 million Dutchess, $8 million Erie, $59.6 million Essex, $1.3 million Franklin, $2.8 million Fulton, $4 million Genesee, $2.2 million Greene, $2.2 million Hamilton, $141,000 Herkimer, $3.8 million Jefferson, $5.7 million Lewis, $1.2 million Livingston, $2.7 million Madison, $3.2 million Monroe, $46.2 million Montgomery, $3.9 million Nassau, $19.7 million Niagara, $12 million Oneida, $15.4 million Onondaga, $26 million Ontario, $3.8 million Orange, $15.8 million Orleans, $2.4 million Oswego, $7.4 million Otsego, $2.3 million Putnam, $646,000 Rensselaer, $7.4 million Rockland, $14.1 million St. Lawrence, $6.3 million Saratoga, $5.3 million Schenectady, $7.6 million Schoharie, $1.3 million Schuyler, $953,000 Seneca, $1.1 million Steuben, $4.5 million Suffolk, $30.7 million Sullivan, $4.3 million Tioga, $2.4 million Tompkins, $3.6 million Ulster, $6.8 million Warren, $2.8 million Washington, $2.9 million Wayne, $3.9 million Westchester, $27 million Wyoming, $1.3 million Yates, $1.2 million New York City, $837 million
Studies of the Food Stamp program show that 80 percent of all benefits are redeemed within two weeks of receipt, and 97 percent are spent within a month. In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture estimates that every additional $5 in Food Stamp spending generates roughly $9.20 in economic activity.
The additional Food Stamp funding complements ongoing efforts by the State to make nutrition assistance more accessible, particularly for low-income working families. During the last few years, New York has implemented a series of new programs and initiatives aimed at increasing access to this vital support and, as a result, enrollment in the program has reached an all-time high of 2.2 million recipients.
Community Health Center Funding
Allocated through the United States Department of Health and Human Services, $7 million in infrastructure grants will finance construction and expansion projects to provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care services. The grants have been awarded to six centers:
Beacon Christian Community Health Center, Staten Island, $1.3 million Urban Health Plan Inc, Bronx, $1.3 million William F. Ryan Community Health Center, Manhattan, $1.3 million The Floating Hospital, Long Island City, $1.3 million Finger Lakes Migrant Health Project, Penn Yan, $1.1 million Bronx Community Health Network Inc., Bronx, $697,000
Fifty-one community health centers in New York will share $19.4 million in funding to support new sites and service areas, to increase services at existing sites, and to provide supplemental payments for the increase in uninsured patients seeking care. The grants have been awarded to:
Whitney M. Young Jr. Community Health Center, Albany, $312,000 Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Arverne, $261,000 Oak Orchard Community Health center Inc., Brockport, $248,000 Bronx Community Health Network, Bronx, $706,000 Bronx-Lebanon Integrated Services System, Bronx, $803,000 Comprehensive Community Development Corporations, Bronx, $255,000 Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, $192,000 Morris Heights Health Center, Bronx, $636,000 Urban Health Plan Inc., Bronx, $362,000 Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center Inc., Brooklyn, $273,000 Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center Inc., Brooklyn, $188,000 Brownsville Community Development Center, Brooklyn, $273,000 ODA Primary care Health Center, Brooklyn, $236,000 Sunset Park Health Council Inc., Brooklyn, $1 million Community Health Center of Buffalo Inc., $177,000 Northwest Buffalo Community Health Care Center Inc., Buffalo, $191,000 Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Canton, $164,000 Family Health Network of Central New York Inc., Cortland, $255,000 Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Glens Falls, $597,000 Project Samaritan Health Services, Inc., Jamaica, $133,000 The Floating Hospital, Long Island City, $935,000 Middletown Community Health Center Inc., Middletown, $270,000 Community Medical and Dental Care Inc., Monsey, $268,000 Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, Mount Vernon, $1.6 million AHRC Health Care Inc., Manhattan, $106,000 Betances Health Center, Manhattan $152,000 BRC Human Services Corp., Manhattan, $137,000 Care for the Homeless, Manhattan, $241,000 Charles B. Wang Community Health Center Inc., Manhattan, $474,000 Community Healthcare Network, Manhattan, $504,000 Covenant House, Manhattan, $149,000 East Harlem Council for Human services Inc., Manhattan, $190,000 Harlem United Community AIDS Center, Manhattan, $102,000 Heritage Health and Housing Inc., Manhattan, $153,000 Project Renewal Inc., Manhattan, $142,000 St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers, Manhattan, $257,000 Settlement Health and Medical Services, $268,000 The Institute for Family Health, Manhattan, $672,000 William F. Ryan Community Health Center Inc., Manhattan $629,000 Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center Inc., Newburgh, $260,000 Open Door Family Medical Center Inc., Ossining, $624,000 Hudson River Health Care, Peekskill, $916,000 Finger Lakes Migrant Health Project, Penn Yan, $260,000 Northern Oswego County Health services Inc., Pulaski, $209,000 Rochester Primary Care Network, Rochester, $796,000 Unity Hospital of Rochester, Rochester, $100,000 Westside Health Services Inc., Rochester, $284,000 Schenectady Family Health Services Inc., Schenectady, $374,000 Refuah Health Center, Spring Valley, $304,000 Beacon Christian Community Health Center, Staten Island, $100,000 Syracuse Community Health Center, Syracuse, $527,000
Quotes provided in support include:
Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “In the current economic state, more and more New York households are relying on food stamps to put food on the table. Increasing these benefits will increase access to these programs and provide an economic boost the local economy to help struggling families across the State. Investing in infrastructure at local health centers will also ensure that all residents have continued access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “Community health centers and Food Stamp Programs are a lifeline for many families across New York. During these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that we provide the most vulnerable with access to health care and food for their table. I thank Governor Paterson for directing these federal dollars to helping community health centers, which are the true safety net providers for the people who need care most.”
Congressman Paul Tonko said: “This is money that is going to help people the most at a time when they are struggling to make ends meet in a tough economy. The food stamp aid carries an additional benefit, because recipients will be spending it directly at local stores and small businesses, providing a boost for local economies across the state. I applaud Governor Paterson for partnering with New York’s congressional delegation to make these funds available so quickly.”
Congressman Michael E. McMahon, said: “Today, New York State announced almost $200 million dollars in funding for community health centers and $400 million for Food Stamps ( TANF ) to help them weather this economic storm. This is a tremendous win for the people of New York. These funds will immediately go to the critical and pressing needs of people throughout the state, and will hopefully alleviate some of their burden. As increasing amounts of money from the economic recovery become available, I want to commend Governor Paterson for his efficient and effective distribution of these funds.”
Congressman Tim Bishop said: “In our current economic climate, many Suffolk County families are relying on food stamps to make ends meet. Increasing these benefits will keep people healthy and put money into the local economy. This is an immediate stimulus that will generate more economic benefits than it costs to implement.”
Congressman John Hall said: “The community health funds included in the economic recovery bill will help to ensure that New Yorkers have access to adequate primary and preventative health care so they aren’t faced with more expensive alternatives in hospital emergency rooms. I applaud these healthy investments.”
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “History has shown that in times of economic trouble, investing in people is the best way to get our economy back on track. I applaud the President and our federal representatives for their wisdom in recognizing that. The Governor also deserves credit for stepping up and helping us move our state’s healthcare system to a more community-based, preventive care mode. These actions will help the federal stimulus package create new jobs across this State.”
State Senator Thomas K. Duane, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, said: “Expanding access to primary and preventive care is central to improving health care in New York State, and improving the health of New Yorkers. I am grateful that in these challenging economic times the American Recovery and Reinvestment Program is targeting money to community health centers, which form the core of our primary care safety net.”
State Senator Liz Krueger said: “The federal government, in its wisdom, has provided New York State with critically needed funding to assist the neediest of New Yorkers during really tough economic times. These funds in turn do double duty – they jump start economic activity and create new jobs that put people back to work. This is a clear win-win for our State.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “Faced with the largest deficit in New York State’s history and the greatest national economic crisis in a generation, this budget was about making tough choices. With that in mind, the Assembly sought to ensure New York’s most vulnerable populations were protected. All across this State, families are struggling to make ends meet. This funding will help in that struggle.”
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said: “Community health centers deliver some of the best health care in New York. These grants are needed to support strategy of strengthening primary and preventative care advanced by Gov, Paterson and his health team. Additional capital and operating support for community health centers is also included in the new State budget.”
Assemblman Keith Wright, Chair of the Assembly Social Services Committee, said: “Our State, indeed our nation, is facing an unprecedented economic collapse. The sheer scope and magnitude of this fiscal crisis is impacting every segment of our population and demands swift action. This $400 million in increased food stamp benefits will certainly help New Yorkers face this crisis. This funding continues the moral obligation of this State to help struggling families by relieving the pressures of choosing between paying bills and putting food on the table. It is essential that these families receive opportunities to make sure no child goes without food, no senior citizen is left in the dark and that working families have the resources they need to make ends meet.”
Assemblyman William Scarborough, Chair of the Assembly Children and Families Committee, said: “I applaud New York’s congressional delegation for their work in ensuring that the federal government provides critical resources to the state. This additional funding will allow New York to support essential programs that protect families during this economic recession. Now more than ever, our struggling families are depending on a helping hand, and in this economy we can’t pull the rug out from under them. We need to ensure the neediest families have the resources they need to get by.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner David Hansell said: “The Food Stamp Program is a perfect vehicle for delivering an economic stimulus. Millions of dollars in nutrition support will be provided without delay through a program with a track record of accuracy and integrity. Families will be fed, jobs will be preserved and created, and farmers will be supported.”
New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., said: “Community health centers provide quality health care efficiently and effectively, and we appreciate the President’s recognition of the value of primary and preventive health care, designed to keep people healthy and help them learn to prevent illness and manage chronic conditions. This funding supports Governor Paterson's ongoing mission to improve the quality of New Yorkers’ health by expanding community-based care.”
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