Disaster Food Stamp Aid For Hurricane Sandy Victims

Starting this Wednesday, December 12, through Tuesday, December 18, the New York City Human Resources Administration, led by Commissioner Robert Doar, will be enacting a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) for people living in zip codes most affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Families and individuals living in the 12 designated zip codes, which include Coney Island, the Rockaways, parts of Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan, can apply for disaster food stamp aid as long as they are currently not receiving food stamps already. People looking to receive aid need to apply between December 12 and December 18, and must do so in person, or have an authorized person representing their household at the following locations.

• 495 Clermont Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, from December 12 to December 18 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. On the first two days, applications at this location will only be accepted alphabetically, according to the first initial of the applicant’s last name: A-M on Wednesday, December 12 and N-Z on Thursday, December 13.  From Friday, December 14 to Tuesday, December 18 applications will be accepted regardless of applicant’s last name.
• New Dorp High School Cafeteria, in Staten Island (465 New Dorp Lane): Friday, December 14, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, December 17, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Here is a list of the specific zip codes the program covers, as well as the conditions needed to qualify.

If you’re not a current SNAP recipient:

• Have lived in one of these designated, hardest hit zip codes as of October 27, 2012:
  • Coney Island, Brooklyn (zip code 11224 and 11235)
  • Red Hook, Brooklyn (zip code 11231)
  • Gerritsen Beach South of Allen Avenue, Brooklyn (partial area of zip code 11229)
  • Lower East Side, Manhattan (zip code 10002)
  • Staten Island: Southeast shore (zip code 10306), and North Midland Beach South of Seaview Avenue (partial area of zip code 10305)
  • the Far Rockaways, Queens (zip codes 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697)
• Must have sustained at least one of the following adverse effects due to the storm:
  • storm-related damage to their household’s home or self-employment business
  • Paid other un-reimbursed disaster-related expenses between October 27 and November 25. (The cost of food lost due to the disaster is not an allowable expense, but the cost of meals purchased at restaurants because of the storm is allowable.)
  • Have lost income or been unable to access liquid resources (cash, bank accounts) between October 27 and November 25
• Must meet the D-SNAP income guidelines.

For more information on qualification guidelines and other specifics, visit nyc.gov, the NYC Human Resources Administration’s release, or call 311.