- Food insecurity affects nearly 3 million New Yorkers, with 60% of households living paycheck to paycheck (Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap).
- Hunger is at its highest level in five years, with more than 1 in 10 New Yorkers experiencing food insufficiency — surpassing early pandemic levels.
- Households with children are especially vulnerable.
- Black and Hispanic New Yorkers face food insufficiency rates more than twice that of white New Yorkers.
- Statewide hunger relief organizations — food banks, food pantries, and emergency meal providers — rely heavily on HPNAP and Nourish NY funding to meet community needs.
- 90% of organizations report that these two programs account for most of the food they distribute.
- Demand is surging: In 2025, 67% of organizations in the Feeding New York State network reported increased demand at food distribution lines.
- Food banks now serve 70% more households and individuals than before the COVID-19 pandemic, with utilization continuing to rise
