FRAC: Press Release - FRAC Releases Urban SNAP/Food Stamp Report 2009

D owl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jen Adach, 202-986-2200 x3018, jadach@frac.org
Ellen Vollinger, (202) 986-2200 x3016, evollinger@frac.org

New FRAC Report on 24 Cities Finds Only 67 Percent of Eligible Urban Households Participated in SNAP/Food Stamp Program;
FRAC Urges Cities to Bolster Outreach Efforts to Help Struggling Families and Stimulate Local Economies

Download SNAP Access in Urban America: A City-by-City Snapshot (pdf)

Washington, D.C. – September 9, 2009 – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) is a critically important but underutilized resource in urban America, according to SNAP Access in Urban America: A City-by-City Snapshot, the Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) latest annual survey of food stamp usage and hunger. FRAC estimates that only 67 percent of eligible people in the 24 large urban areas studied participated in the program in 2007; as a result, the 24 cities lost out on more than $1.6 billion in federally-funded benefits.

As cities struggle with economic challenges, closing the participation gap can help both families in need and local economies. All of America’s big cities stand to gain millions of federal dollars each year through comparatively modest efforts to increase participation in SNAP/Food Stamps. “The biggest losers are low-income households when there is underparticipation in the program. But, local communities lose as well – they are missing out on millions of dollars that can benefit their economies,” said Jim Weill, FRAC President. “SNAP/Food Stamps is the nation’s most important direct defense against hunger and one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy. It is also the nutrition program that can do the most to eliminate childhood hunger, a goal the President has set for achievement by 2015.”

Increasing participation in SNAP/Food Stamps would help achieve President Barack Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. FRAC has identified improving SNAP/Food Stamps participation and benefits as one of the seven essential strategies to reach the President’s goal (www.endingchildhunger2015.org).

FRAC’s report documents participation right before the start of the recession. Since 2007, SNAP/Food Stamp participation nationally has experienced record growth, with the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing that more than 35 million people received SNAP/Food Stamps in June 2009. Despite this growth, millions of potentially eligible people in these cities are not receiving SNAP/Food Stamps – even the highest caseload growth should not be taken as a sign that everyone in need of food assistance is being served, especially as the recession creates record-breaking numbers of people in need of help.

FRAC’s report identifies several strategies that can connect eligible people with benefits. For example, SNAP/Food Stamp agencies can make it easier for households to obtain benefits by allowing them to apply over the telephone and on the Internet. SNAP/Food Stamp outreach projects can get application information to people where they work, go to school, seek health care, and shop.

Other findings from the report include:

Among the 24 big cities covered in this report, all but three had a poverty rate equal to or higher than the national rate of 13.3 percent in 2007. In a majority of the cities, at least one child in four lived below the poverty line in 2007.
In 2007, 13.5 percent of households in principal cities experienced food insecurity, as compared with 11.1 percent of households in the entire U.S. population.
SNAP/Food Stamp participation in the surveyed cities was lowest in San Diego, with only 35 percent participating, and highest in Philadelphia, with 93 percent of eligible individuals participating.
In total, more than $1.6 billion in federally-funded benefits was left unclaimed by the 24 cities and urban counties in 2007. Los Angeles left $399 million in unclaimed benefits on the table; New York City missed out on $271 million; and Harris County (Houston, Tex.) missed out on $203 million.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) included a temporary boost in benefits, which was widely supported by economists as one of the best ways to stimulate the economy. Total spending for program benefits in May 2009 due to ARRA raises and increased program participation was $4.6 billion, bringing the estimated total economic stimulative impact of SNAP/Food Stamp benefits that month to more than $8.4 billion.

About the report: FRAC looked at SNAP/Food Stamp participation rates, and benefits foregone, in 24 of America’s largest cities. Cities were selected based on size and geographical representation. A full explanation of the methodology used is included in the report. The full report, SNAP Access in Urban America: A City-by-City Snapshot, is available at www.frac.org/pdf/urbanfoodstamps09.pdf. The 24 cities are: Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Houston, Tex.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; Miami, Fla.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; New York, N.Y.; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Phoenix, Ariz.; San Antonio, Tex.; San Diego, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Washington, D.C.; and Wichita, Kan.

# # #

The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition.