Albany County approved emergency measures on Monday to help residents affected by a temporary disruption in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit issuance, authorizing agreements with the Regional Food Bank of New York and United Way of the Greater Capital Region and amending the Department of Social Services (DSS) 2025 budget.

The county approved a budget-neutral amendment reallocating unused personnel funds to create a $750,000 emergency package, with $250,000 designated for the Regional Food Bank and up to $500,000 for United Way. James Dagan, Department of Social Services staff, told the body the county is acting as a temporary "stop-gap" while state and federal processing proceeds: "we are trying to backfill... some of the SNAP benefits that may or may not be showing up on time."

Why it matters: Officials said the payments aim to reduce short-term food insecurity ahead of the holiday season while state benefit issuance is phased in. A DSS official described the state's rollout as a "rolling issuance" that began after direction from the governor and estimated that active SNAP recipients could receive benefits over several days, possibly stretching to the following Sunday; new applicants would likely wait longer.

How the assistance will work: The county will fund gift cards (typically $50 per individual and $100 per family) and work with United Way to distribute them through grocery retailers and community sites. "We're going to give people the gift cards once they prove that they're SNAP eligible," Dagan said, describing a system in which county staff will verify SNAP status on site because eligibility data cannot be released to United Way.

Staff said distributions were already scheduled at multiple locations across the county for the week, including Ravenna, Vernon, Albany, Cohoes and other sites selected for transit access. The county emphasized it can refuse to give a gift card to someone who has already received state-issued benefits and that, in exceptional cases, Adult Protective Services and local donation drives will provide direct deliveries for people unable to reach sites.

Paperwork and amounts: Legislators identified a discrepancy in the agenda materials showing inconsistent numbers for the food bank allocation; staff acknowledged the error and confirmed the Regional Food Bank allocation should be $250,000. Staff also said the county may not need to spend the full $500,000 allocated for United Way if state benefit distribution progresses.

Votes and next steps: The Legislature moved and approved the agreements and the budget amendment during the meeting. Item 2 (the United Way agreement) was moved by Gary Demolovich and seconded by Ray Joyce and passed by voice vote; the broader budget amendment was moved, seconded and taken up by the body as presented.

Political context and limits: Several members used the discussion to criticize congressional leaders over the shutdown, but staff noted the county will not be reimbursed directly by the federal government for these outlays and that reconciling state and federal payments adds complexity.

What remains unresolved: The county will proceed with distributions while monitoring state issuance; whether the full $500,000 will be used depends on how many SNAP recipients receive state benefits during the coming days. Officials also noted recordkeeping and on-site verification will determine who receives gift cards, and staff said they will turn away people who already have received benefits.

The Legislature adjourned after approving the measures and setting the distribution schedule into motion.