New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the city’s Health Department have launched a new $3 million initiative to help residents navigate federal changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
The Health and Affordability Resource Team, known as HART, will connect New Yorkers with health insurance enrollment, food assistance, cash benefits, housing support and relief from hospital bills, the mayor’s office announced.
The launch comes ahead of new federal Medicaid work requirements and documentation rules that city officials estimate could put as many as 900,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing health coverage.
Funded by a $3 million investment in Fiscal Year 2027, HART will help New Yorkers maintain health coverage and access other services that support their health and financial stability.
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“Health care and nutritious food should not be a privilege. They are basic necessities,” Mamdani stated describing the initiative as an effort to bring assistance directly into communities.
Staffed by trained community health workers, with support from community -based organizations and volunteers, team members collectively speak 13 languages and many also have personal experience navigating the health care and food assistance programs they will help residents access, according to the city,
Their training covered federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP, cultural competency, community engagement, health insurance eligibility and enrollment, coordination with public health organizations, and approaches to supporting community mental health.
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga said the administration was taking a coordinated approach to connect residents with services and protect access to essential support.
Health Commissioner Alister F. Martin said HART would bring trained workers into neighborhoods to connect residents with resources related to health care, housing and financial stability.
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The initiative builds on existing efforts by the Health Department to prepare health care providers and community organizations for the federal changes.
The administration said it has provided guidance and resources to more than 35,000 health care providers and 60,000 community and faith-based partners. It has also held more than 50 training and engagement sessions and begun hiring additional health insurance enrollment counselors.
Federal SNAP work requirements expanded March 1, requiring thousands of New Yorkers who were previously exempt to meet new conditions to maintain their benefits, according to the city.
The Health Department says new Medicaid work requirements begins from Jan. 1, 2027, for new applicants, while existing enrollees will face the requirements when renewing coverage beginning March 1, 2027.