Expanding Food Benefits for Immigrants

The United States has many social benefit programs that help people avoid hunger.  Not everyone, however, has access to these food safety net programs and many are unaware of their eligibility or face obstacles in enrolling.

Expanding Food Benefits for Immigrants by Anabel Perez-Jimenez and Nicholas Freudenberg, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute explored the eligibility of various categories of New York City’s immigrant populations, from those who have become citizens to permanent residents to those who lack legal immigration status, for the nation’s main food benefit programs.

The goal is to widen a public conversation among immigrants and their organizations, food security groups, food justice advocates and policy makers about identifying policies and practices that will make New York City a national model for immigrant access to food benefits.