FRAC - Food Stamp Access in Urban America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:
Thursday, October 11 , 2007	Ellen Volinger, 202-986-2200 x3016 Jennifer Adach, 202-986-2200 x3018

24 Cities Miss Average One in Three Eligible Urban Poor Households with Food Stamps and $2.27 Billion in Benefits Forgone
2007 Farm Bill Should Ease Access and Raise Food Stamp Benefit Levels

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Food Stamp Access in Urban America

Washington, D.C. – October 11, 2007 – The Food Stamp Program is a lifeline for many low-income people in U.S. cities but low participation rates left more than $2.27 billion in food stamp benefits unclaimed in 24 of the largest U.S. urban areas in 2005, according to Food Stamp Access in Urban America, the Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC’s) latest survey of food stamp usage and hunger. On average, food stamp benefits reached only 65 percent of eligible people in the surveyed cities.

America’s cities are home to a disproportionately high number of individuals struggling with low wages, growing living costs for essentials, and hunger and poverty. In the 24 cities included in the report, all but three had a poverty rate higher than the national average of 13.3 percent in 2005. Also, they recorded higher levels of food insecurity; 13.5 percent of the households in the surveyed cities are struggling against hunger, compared to the national average of 11 percent. Food stamps, considered to be the first line of defense against hunger, are still missing too many individuals in need.

“Far too many people in U.S. cities face a constant struggle against hunger. And, far too many miss out on food stamps because of outdated rules, unnecessary red tape, concerns about stigma, or simply not knowing about the program,” said Jim Weill, FRAC President. FRAC called on state and city officials to make food stamps more accessible, cut red tape, conduct more outreach, and take other steps to reach eligible but unserved families. At the same time, FRAC called on Congress, considering Food Stamp reauthorization in the Farm Bill this fall, to improve and reform the program. “The House passed significant improvements that would make it easier for households to access the program, keep benefits growing with the cost of living, and raise the minimum benefit level for the first time in decades,” added Weill. “The Senate should build on that for the strongest nutrition title possible."

Food stamp participation in the surveyed cities was lowest in San Diego (Calif.), with only 31 percent participating, and in Clark County (Las Vegas, Nev.), with 44 percent participating. In Harris County (Houston, Texas), and Denver County (Denver, Colo.), as well, less than one half of eligible people participated in the program. Participation was highest in Wayne County (Detroit, Mich.), with 98 percent of eligible individuals participating, and in both Washington, D.C. and Marion County (Indianapolis, Ind.), with 86 percent participating.

Low participation rates mean unnecessary hunger and food insecurity, but they also mean that federal money is left on the table. In total, more than $2.27 billion in federally-funded benefits were left unclaimed by the 24 cities and urban counties in 2005. The places that were missing out on the most federal food stamp benefits were Los Angeles County, California ($564 million); New York, New York ($335 million); and Harris County (Houston), Texas ($267 million).

“Low-income urban Americans often face a toxic mix of low earnings, high rents, and higher than average food prices where they shop,” said Ellen Vollinger, FRAC’s legal director. “Recent Food Stamp Challenges, in which religious, political and other community leaders have tried to live on a food stamp budget for a week have highlighted the difficulties of purchasing a healthy diet on the average food stamp allotment of $1 a person a meal. Raising food stamp benefits, improving eligibility, cutting red tape, and easing program access must be priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill.”

As of May 2007 in the 24 cities included in the report, approximately 5.5 million people were receiving food stamps. More than half of the households receiving food stamps contained children, and nearly three quarters (73 percent) of the benefits issued were paid to households with one or more children. One in five urban food stamp households included an elderly person.

About the report: FRAC looked at food stamp participation rates in 24 of America’s largest cities. Cities were selected based on size and geographical representation. A full explanation of the methodology used to determine the Local Access Indicator and missed benefits is included in the report. The full report, Food Stamp Access in Urban America: A City-by-City Snapshot, is available at www.frac.org. 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.

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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.