Restaurant Meals Program - SNAP Benefits

On October 4th, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.64/A.1524) establishing a statewide Restaurant Meals Program as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The legislation mandates the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to apply for USDA approval to authorize the program, which would allow homeless, elderly and disabled SNAP recipients to use their benefits for prepared or hot food from participating restaurants. This is legislation that the NYC Hospitality Alliance has advocated for and supported as it offers a creative and thoughtful way to support food-insecure New Yorkers with access to hot food and nourishment from restaurants, while also providing relief to the those same restaurants.