On August 5, 2008, RJV Steering Committee members, Barbara Zaron and Arleen Urell joined other members of the Faith and Hunger Network in a meeting in Albany with David Hansell, Commissioner, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA is NYS’s welfare agency) and members of his executive team* to discuss issues related to providing assistance to New Yorkers who are poor and working poor. We discussed food assistance, raising the basic welfare grant, home heating assistance allowances, support for education and training – what the agency is doing and where we can help move their agenda. Briefly, the following actions were discussed:

Food: Efforts are underway to maximize food stamp enrollment, there will be an increase in food stamp benefits effective in October for 115,000 people who live in public and Section 8 housing; we proposed doing welfare grant increase as food supplement to avoid reduction in food stamps, Commissioner welcomed our advocacy on this. 

Raising the Basic Welfare Grant: This grant has not been raised since 1990. RJV joined the fight to have it included in last year's budget (not done). It is unlikely that it will be included in the 2009 budget in the current fiscal climate.

Heating Assistance: There is federal legislation to increase heating assistance grants to states that is being tied to off shore drilling by Republicans. OTDA requested the help of the faith community on the federal level to help separate the issues. OTDA will also request state money to increase heating allowances in case the federal allocation is not passed or is less than what is needed.

Educational Support: OTDA is reviewing its career pathways (training and education) programs to offer a continuum of programs including a range of programs from basic education, such as literacy and, GED to college programs that will provide effective adult worker education. Allowing higher education to count as "work" credit will require statutory change.

Often when the legislature allocates funds for a new program, the money has been taken from an existing program, OTDA asked us to help in preventing this cannibalization.

**Also attending from the OTDA was the Director of the Center for Employment and Economic Supports (CEES), the Director of Employment Advancement Services, Special Assistant, CEES, and the Director of Home Energy Assistance Program.

Photo: (left to right) Mark Dunlea, Director of the Hunger Action Network, Barbara Zaron, RJV Steering Committee and OTDA Commissioner David Hansell