Squadron Welcomes Approval of $13 Million in D-Snap for Nyc Families Impacted by Sandy

Squadron Worked With Advocates, City to Ensure Inclusion of Lower Manhattan

NEW YORK -- Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron welcomed the news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a request for $13 million to bring the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to areas of New York City impacted by the storm, including Manhattan, for which Senator Squadron advocated. 

Residents who lived in the 12 targeted areas (listed below) on October 27, 2012 can apply for disaster food assistance from December 12th to December 18th from 8:30AM to 6:00PM at 495 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn. A Staten Island location at New Dorp High School, 465 New Dorp Lane, will also be open from December 14th to December 17th.

Senator Squadron is continuing to urge the inclusion of additional partial zip codes that would allow more New Yorkers impacted by the storm to apply. He is also urging the opening of additional application centers closer to more affected zip codes.

"The approval of D-SNAP for residents throughout the city means that more New Yorkers in more places will get the critical food assistance they need," said Senator Squadron. "Too many New York families are still struggling in Sandy's aftermath. D-SNAP is one way to help them through this extraordinarily difficult time and allow them to focus on their family's long-term recovery and rebuilding. Thank you to the city and the advocates who I worked with to ensure the inclusion of Lower Manhattan in today's announcement. I'll continue to push to expand the program and its application centers to be as inclusive as possible so more New Yorkers get the help they need."

The targeted areas and the specific zip codes include:

• Lower Manhattan (10002)
• Red Hook (11231) and Coney Island (11224, 11235, and residents south of Allen Ave in 11229)
• Far Rockaway (11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11697)
• Staten Island's southeaster shore (10306 and residents south of Seaview Ave in 10305)

The New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will determine applicant eligibility based on household income, resources, and disaster-related expenses. New Yorkers in the targeted areas who already receive SNAP benefits do not need to apply; if their SNAP benefits are less than the maximum, they will automatically receive D-SNAP.

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