Red Hook community rallies as stolen food benefits leave residents in crisis

RED HOOK, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Stolen food benefits are causing severe hardship within the Red Hook community, with many residents now left without the means to purchase essential groceries.

The recent expiration of federal reimbursement for stolen SNAP benefits has exacerbated the situation, leaving vulnerable individuals and families in a precarious position. The community is mobilizing to address the growing crisis.

"PROTECT EBT!" echoed through the streets of Red Hook, as community members, led by U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, gathered in front of the Red Hook Initiative in Brooklyn. Their collective voice demanded comprehensive reforms to combat the escalating issue of stolen SNAP benefits.

At the heart of this crisis are individuals like Wu Lihua, a Red Hook resident whose EBT card was skimmed. Criminals stole her data, draining her grocery funds and triggering severe health struggles, including spiking blood pressure.

Her story, however, is not unique. Since the federal SNAP reimbursement fund was allowed to expire in December, when Congress refused to reauthorize its funding in the continuing budget resolution, the Red Hook Initiative has filed 85 individual claims for reimbursement, totaling over $40,000 in benefits stolen from Red Hook residents.

"I am hopeful that we will push this through," stated Goldman, who is introducing the Enhanced Cyber Security for SNAP Act in response to the crisis. "It will implement pretty basic technology into EBT cards that prevent them from being used without a pin or without some additional authentication from the person who it is going to."

According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, from August 2023 to December 2024, a staggering $65 million in SNAP benefits were stolen in New York, with nearly $40 million reimbursed federally.

Mitaynes is urging state leadership to take immediate action in the upcoming state budget, demanding a $50 million compensation fund for victims of EBT theft and $40 million to transition to chip-enabled benefit cards. "These solutions are not just necessary, they are urgent," she emphasized.

In the meantime, Lihua and other victims are demanding immediate action to protect EBT users' rights, joining their community's united call for change.