To help make it easier for unemployed residents to access food assistance, Assembly Democrats Louis Greenwald, Herb Conaway and Daniel Benson sponsor legislation to make the link to the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP) website more readily available.
NJ SNAP provides food assistance to families with limited income to help them buy groceries in grocery stores throughout the state. Under the bill (A-5690), the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) would be required to make a link to this program available on its website and in any emails sent out regarding unemployment benefits.
Upon the legislation unanimously passing the full Assembly Thursday, Majority Leader Greenwald (D-Burlington, Camden), Assemblyman Conaway (D-Burlington) and Assemblyman Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex) issued the following joint statement:
“Without a steady income to rely on, many people who are out of work understandably struggle to put food on the table. When unemployment soared last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity drastically increased as well – with more than 1 million residents in need of assistance.
“Losing one’s job is already a stressful and destabilizing experience without having to worry about where your family’s next meal will come from. Including a link to the NJ SNAP website in unemployment-related communications from DOLWD is a simple and effective way to help spread the word about this program and make it easier for residents to access the benefits they need.”
The measure now heads to the Senate.