FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 07, 2009

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

$400 Million in Food Stamp Funding for Individuals and Families in Upstate Counties; Households Will Receive 13.6 Percent Increase in Monthly Benefits

$26.5 Million in Funding Will Support Construction and Expansion Projects for Community Health Centers

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:

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:

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: