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Albany County approves up to $750,000 in emergency assistance as SNAP benefits roll out
Summary
Facing delayed SNAP benefit issuance, Albany County approved agreements with the Regional Food Bank of New York and United Way of the Greater Capital Region and amended the Department of Social Services budget to provide short-term gift cards and food distributions funded from unused personnel lines.
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…
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