February 19, 2026
Listen on:
French shares his journey from nonprofit leadership to overseeing an agency that serves more than three million New Yorkers each year. The discussion focuses on the return of expanded federal SNAP work requirements, what they mean for hundreds of thousands of city residents, and how HRA is working with community-based organizations to minimize confusion, prevent benefit loss, and keep families connected to essential wraparound supports.
They also tackle common misconceptions about public benefits, the realities of affordability and generational poverty, and recent efforts to better align housing subsidies, homelessness prevention, and workforce systems to support long-term stability.
Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on public service, accountability, and keeping the safety net strong for New Yorkers who need it most.
Listen on: