Older New Yorkers rally at City Hall to fight for funding for meal program

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Dozens of older New Yorkers rallied on the steps of City Hall Monday to protest cuts to the city’s Department for the Aging.

Advocates said the city wants to reduce services and funding for meals for older residents. To send a message, dozens of older New York City residents handed out meals to lawmakers.

Advocates said the city only funds one meal per day, five days a week. Some say that’s not enough. For many older adults, it’s often their only hot meal, according to New York City Council member Crystal Hudson.

Hudson, the chair of the city’s Committee on Aging, said the city cut the Department for the Aging's budget by $20 million last year, and it faces additional cuts in the budget for the next three fiscal years, impacting critical services for older residents, including meal programs.

Cheryl Chapman, a 75-year-old from the Bronx, said she fears if she loses her free meals from her senior center due to budget cuts, she will be forced to eat cat food. Chapman, a retired nurse's aide, said she pays more than $1,000 in rent and has very little left for food.

The director of AARP said she wants older residents to have access to three meals per day, seven days a week.

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, the commissioner of the Department for the Aging, released the following statement.

“With the number of New Yorkers aged 60+ continuing to increase, NYC Aging remains steadfast in our commitment to helping older adults age-in-place, which is why we continue to work with our network of service providers to help combat food insecurity and reimbursement rates for home-delivered meals have seen multiple increases over the past several years. As we have previously stated, this administration has preserved – not cut – services for older New Yorkers over this budget cycle and we will continue to assess ongoing needs of older adults and will collaborate with city partners to ensure that older New Yorkers can age with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“In addition, 80,000 human services workers employed by non-profit organizations, many of whom work with older residents, will receive a well-deserved raise.”

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, the commissioner of the Department for the Aging