Suffolk County is failing its most vulnerable residents who face a crisis of hunger

In Suffolk County, a stark divide confronts us: Amid pockets of extreme wealth, the most impoverished among us are being failed by our government.

This truth, highlighted by a recent Newsday expose, sheds light on the struggle of Suffolk residents facing dire challenges without the support of federal programs intended to address their emergency needs. In short, by failing to process applications for emergency assistance in a timely way, Suffolk County has been failing to help our most vulnerable residents access programs meant to help them meet their nutritional needs in times of crisis.

Hunger, far from a mere absence of food, represents a pervasive trauma, made worse by a series of factors including inflation and a profound mental health crisis. The county’s failure to assist our most vulnerable residents not only exacerbates these crises but also highlights a concerning demographic trend: Suffolk boasts more adults 65 and older than 59 of the 62 counties in New York State, with the number of seniors living in poverty here increasing by a staggering 64% between 2011 and 2021. This reality demands immediate action; we must do better.

Our most vulnerable residents — including veterans, the elderly, working-poor families and children — rely on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as an emergency measure to meet their basic needs in times of crisis. SNAP, as an effective anti-poverty tool, not only addresses immediate food insecurity but also has far-reaching benefits, improving high school graduation rates and health outcomes. SNAP also increases local economic investment when recipients spend those funds at local businesses.

Denying our neighbors access to food, whether due to policy choices, inadequate resourcing, or a lack of emergency planning, is a profound failure of governance that demands our urgent attention and rectification. It also puts downward pressure on nonprofit food pantries already struggling to meet the expanding and emerging needs of Suffolk residents as food prices have risen dramatically and families new to asking for assistance are desperate and showing up at their doors.

The origins of Suffolk’s crisis are multifaceted, including workforce shortages, increased pandemic-related caseloads, a cyberattack, and low starting salaries for essential workers. While Suffolk possesses the tools to plan for and mitigate the impacts of disasters, it is clear that more must be done.

Suffolk County must respond to the immediate emergency and develop robust emergency planning protocols to ensure that Department of Social Services workers have the capacity to assess qualifications promptly and efficiently when the next disaster arrives — whether a pandemic, a weather-related disaster, or unforeseen calamity. The county must cross-train, build capacity to deploy, prioritize, and process applications to ensure the safety of our neighbors.

As the former head of Long Island’s primary health and human services umbrella agency, I understand the challenges facing DSS. I have witnessed the struggles endured during past crises such as Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy, and the economic downturn of 2008. Our most vulnerable neighbors often endure the longest recoveries in the aftermath of disasters, and it is incumbent upon government to serve them with compassion and efficiency.

An emergency plan for the deployment of essential social services is not just urgent — it is imperative, timely, and crucial. We cannot afford to delay action any longer. Let us come together to ensure that Suffolk County’s most vulnerable residents receive the support and assistance they need to weather the storms ahead.