NYC Archives - New York Health Foundation

Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center

SNAP is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program. More than 1.7 million New York City residents enrolled in this program; food insecurity and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in demand for SNAP. NYHealth made a grant to the Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center (SNP-UJC) in 2023 to maximize SNAP enrollment for eligible New Yorkers. In 2024, NYHealth awarded SNP-UJC a grant to continue to improve the timely processing of SNAP applications for eligible and food-insecure New Yorkers.

Under this grant, SNP-UJC will continue its advocacy work and raise the voices and needs of SNAP program participants. It will work to secure the progress it achieved under the first phase of work, monitor improvements, and address remaining barriers that prevent timely enrollment to help hungry New Yorkers.

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming

New York State’s Hudson Valley region is home to thousands of farms that produce millions of pounds of food annually. And yet, many Hudson Valley and nearby New York City residents struggle with food insecurity and lack access to nutrient-dense, fresh food. The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model is one way to create access to healthy foods supplied by local farms, but it has historically been out of reach for SNAP recipients. In 2024, NYHealth awarded the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming a grant to provide support across a network of farms in the Hudson Valley to expand a replicable CSA program for SNAP customers.

Under this grant, Glynwood will promote outreach, scaling, and replication of the CSA is a SNAP program throughout the region and State. The program provides SNAP customers with a 1:1 matching benefit, allows them to make weekly payments, and ensures farmers receive the full cost of CSA shares for SNAP customers. It will also allow SNAP customers in the Hudson Valley and New York City to have easier access to fresh, locally grown food, and small-scale farms in the region will have new markets that improve their economic viability.

Rock Steady Farm

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. However, stark disparities persist by race and ethnicity, and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease. The communities most affected by these disparities often have the best solutions to improving food equity. However, systemic barriers often exist, and historically, organizations led by people of color have not had equal access to or benefited from traditional philanthropy funds and resources. In 2024, NYHealth issued an inaugural Request for Proposals (RFP), “Healthy Food, Healthy Lives: Supporting a More Equitable Food System,” to advance racial health equity in the food system. NYHealth awarded Rock Steady Farm (RSF) a grant to participate in this initiative.

Under this grant, RSF will assist queer, trans, and BIPOC (QTBIPOC)-led farms to procure fresh produce and products throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley. New farmers often lack the infrastructure to pursue purchasing contracts from large public institutions or wholesale orders. To address this challenge, RSF will leverage its logistical and transportation infrastructure; high demand for its produce in the New York City area; and community-based relationships to support QTBIPOC-led farms. It will also coordinate with food hub cooperative Brooklyn Packers and the Northeast Farmers of Color Network, a network of queer, trans, and BIPOC farmers and stakeholders, to provide support to other farms interested in reaching the New York City market with their products. RSF will also supplement its weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with produce and products from small farms, and it will strengthen its partnerships with project collaborators to coordinate in-person and virtual convenings with key farmers, distribution partners, and service providers.

See a full list of grantees working to advance racial health equity in the food system.

Black Women’s Blueprint

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. However, stark disparities persist by race and ethnicity, and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease. The communities most affected by these disparities often have the best solutions to improving food equity. However, systemic barriers often exist, and historically, organizations led by people of color have not had equal access to or benefited from traditional philanthropy funds and resources. In 2024, NYHealth issued an inaugural Request for Proposals (RFP), “Healthy Food, Healthy Lives: Supporting a More Equitable Food System,” to advance racial health equity in the food system. NYHealth awarded Black Women’s Blueprint (BWB) a grant to participate in this initiative.

Under this grant, BWB will expand and formalize its Food Is Medicine program to support maternal physical and mental health through nutritional, farm-fresh foods. BWB will partner with Brooklyn Packers, a food hub cooperative, to distribute farm-fresh foods and expand its reach into New York City. It will use its Sistas Mobile Van to expand community outreach methods and distribute fresh bags of produce and other food items that support maternal and post-partum health. BWB will also coordinate registered dietitians, integrative nutrition coaches, and in-house educators to provide workshops, cooking demonstrations, and educational community events focused on improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes.

See a full list of grantees working to advance racial health equity in the food system.

Red Hook Initiative

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. However, stark disparities persist by race and ethnicity, and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease. The communities most affected by these disparities often have the best solutions to improving food equity. However, systemic barriers often exist, and historically, organizations led by people of color have not had equal access to or benefited from traditional philanthropy funds and resources. In 2024, NYHealth issued an inaugural Request for Proposals (RFP), “Healthy Food, Healthy Lives: Supporting a More Equitable Food System,” to advance racial health equity in the food system. NYHealth awarded the Red Hook Initiative (RHI) a grant to participate in this initiative.

Under this grant, RHI will partner with New York University (NYU) Family Health Centers and the Red Hook Community Health Network (RHCHN) to pilot the Red Hook Food Rx Program. The program will increase Red Hook community members’ ability to purchase healthy, nutrient-rich meals for themselves and their families while leveraging the local resources of a community-led urban farm. RHCHN will distribute weekly $25 coupons to 30 Red Hook individuals or families experiencing food insecurity to redeem for fresh vegetables, fruit, and eggs at RHI’s weekly farm stand. Outreach staff will screen interested individuals or families and enroll eligible participants.

See a full list of grantees working to advance racial health equity in the food system.

Harvest Home Farmers Market

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. However, stark disparities persist by race and ethnicity, and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease. The communities most affected by these disparities often have the best solutions to improving food equity. However, systemic barriers often exist, and historically, organizations led by people of color have not had equal access to or benefited from traditional philanthropy funds and resources. In 2024, NYHealth issued an inaugural Request for Proposals (RFP), “Healthy Food, Healthy Lives: Supporting a More Equitable Food System,” to advance racial health equity in the food system. NYHealth awarded Harvest Home Farmer’s Market (Harvest Home) a grant to participate in this initiative.

Under this grant, Harvest Home will create awareness of an underused medical insurance benefit for Medicare and Medicaid recipients to receive farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Most medical insurance companies offer dual Medicare and Medicaid recipients a monthly cash allotment, between $100 and $250 per month, to enrolled participants for over-the-counter (OTC) purchases of health-related items. However, many eligible people—especially seniors with limited English proficiency and residents of underserved communities—are unaware that OTC benefits can be used to purchase food. Harvest Home will launch a marketing campaign to promote the use of OTC benefits at its 14 farmers markets in New York City; collaborate with local pharmacies and other retailers to create greater awareness; and leverage its network with community partners and health care providers to connect participants to its OTC program.

See a full list of grantees working to advance racial health equity in the food system.

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Region: NYC

Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming

Rock Steady Farm

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Black Women’s Blueprint

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Red Hook Initiative

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Harvest Home Farmers Market

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.