New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced the end of a controversial program that provided pre-paid debit cards to migrant families for buying food. The initiative, which began as a pilot in February, aimed to assist 500 migrant families living in hotel shelters and later expanded to 2,600 families. However, due to a decrease in the number of migrants in city-run shelters, the program will not be renewed when the one-year emergency contract expires in January.
During an interview with ABC7, Mayor Adams emphasized that the decision to end the program was based on the decreasing migrant population in the city. He highlighted the success of the initiative in reducing the city’s spending on feeding migrants and minimizing food waste. The administration has spent $3.6 million on the program, with $3.2 million directly loaded onto the debit cards and the remaining $400,000 covering administrative costs.
The city plans to replace the MoCaFi contract and the debit card model through a competitive bidding process to find the next vendor who will distribute meal kits to migrant families previously served by the program. Families of four with two children received $350 per month on their cards, similar to the amount given to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.
Although the program was deemed successful by Mayor Adams, it faced criticism from various quarters. Critics questioned the possibility of misuse of the debit cards by migrants and argued that native New Yorkers in need were being overlooked. The controversy surrounding the program led to a city Department of Investigation probe into the contract with MoCaFi.
City Council Member Joann Ariola, a vocal critic of city spending on migrants, celebrated the program’s termination on social media. She expressed relief that taxpayer dollars would no longer be spent on the program, echoing the sentiment of those who believed the initiative prioritized migrants over native New Yorkers.
The decision to end the program is not believed to be linked to the DOI investigation or speculation regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s re-election. Mayor Adams reiterated that the move was driven by the declining migrant population in city shelters and the success of the initiative in achieving its intended goals.
In addition to winding down the debit card program, the city announced the closure of the mega-tent shelter on Randall’s Island by early next year as part of its broader strategy to address the cost of caring for migrants passing through the shelter system. By transitioning to a new vendor for meal kit distribution, the city aims to continue supporting migrant families while ensuring efficient use of resources.
