The Weekly Food Research and Action Center News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

Special Notice: Hunger Champions – Nominations Still Being Accepted by USDA
The Hunger Champions nomination period has been extended - Entries must be received by July 25, 2008. For more information, visit the USDA/FNS Hunger Champions Web page.

1. Tucson Public Housing Stops Taking New Applications
(Tucson Citizen, June 17, 2008)

Public housing in Tucson, Arizona is filled to 99 percent of capacity. As a result, the city has stopped taking applications from families who can’t afford market-rate rents and are looking to the city for help. There’s a backlog of 5,000 public housing applications, which means approximately 10,000 people are looking for affordable housing. “Whenever the waiting list builds up, at some point it doesn’t make sense to keep adding to the waiting list. It’s not fair to people,” according to Emily Nottingham, head of the city’s Community Services Department. Applications for Section 8 housing – housing subsidized by the city but selected by tenants – have been closed for two years due to demand, with 100 percent occupancy. The list will be opened to new applications for one week in July; it’s expected that 3,000 to 4,000 new applications will be filed in that time. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, long waiting lists for federally funded housing programs are common. One family, headed by Veronica Dolores (who already collects Social Security disability payments), has been able to move into public housing in a nicer neighborhood after struggling with high rents along with high food and fuel prices. She continues to receive food stamps.

2. Service Agencies Deliver Help – in Fragments
(Floridatoday.com, June 23, 2008)

Florida’s Brevard County, through its 2-1-1 counselors, referred residents seeking help to 590 different programs in May 2008 – programs delivering food, shelter, job assistance, and mental and physical health assistance. However, the system forces the impoverished to apply separately to each program, a practice that’s “…not very efficient for the service agencies involved, and…not very customer-friendly,” said 2-1-1 Brevard executive director Libby Donoghue. “One-stop” centers would be ideal, according to Donoghue, and the technology exists for 2-1-1 to implement them at low cost, which would save fuel costs for those seeking services. But administrative hurdles present obstacles at this time, especially in the areas of confidentiality, technical standards like common data fields, and politics.

3. Citizenship Proof Requirement Causes Delays in Delivering Services
(The Washington Post, June 25, 2008)

Lansing, Michigan resident Margo Kindred didn’t know she needed her birth certificate in order to apply for welfare – and couldn’t afford the $10 fee for obtaining the document. Consequently, she and the four children in her care were forced to move out of the motel they called home and into a shelter. Michigan and Nebraska are the only states requiring proof of citizenship from applicants in order to provide cash assistance, and Missouri is soon to join them. Virginia requires either a birth certificate or Social Security number, and allows recipients to sign an affidavit if they don’t have the documents. However, these requirements are creating a barrier to entry for many of the needy seeking services, who sometimes have to wait weeks or months to get their paperwork together. Some are discouraged from applying at all. Research last year showed that Medicaid numbers fell after similar requirements were put in place; advocates see the same thing happening to welfare numbers in Michigan.

4. Overlooked Diseases Plague America’s Poor
(Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2008)

In spite of the country’s wealth, at least 300,000 of America’s poor suffer from 24 “neglected infections of poverty” - bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases usually seen in tropical areas and developing countries, according to a report published in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Some of the diseases have been brought from overseas, while others have had a foothold here for some time, and are concentrated in poverty-stricken areas like Appalachia, inner cities, the Mississippi Delta, and the Mexican border. A few of these diseases, which have disastrous effects on child development and worker productivity, are:

schistosomiasis – an parasitic infection common in Africa;
brucellosis – caused by a bacteria in unsanitary dairy products;
dengue fever – a virus common to South America and tropical Asia;
toxoplasmosis – a parasite causing an infection transferred from mother to child at birth;
cysticercosis – a pork tapeworm infection that has caused 10 percent of seizures in Los Angeles emergency room visits.

In the case of toxoplasmosis, most hospitals don’t screen for the infection; they do screen for the genetic disease phenylketonuria, although toxoplasmosis affects 10 times more inner city and poor Southern area newborns. Though many of these diseases can be easily prevented or cured, many sufferers never receive medical attention.
Journal article: http://www.plosntds.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0000256

5. Foreclosure Crisis Causes Rise in Homeless Numbers
(USA Today June 25, 2008)

A study released in April by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) found that 61 percent of local and state homeless coalitions report rises in the rates of homeless since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007. According to the study, 40 percent of foreclosed households reported being on the street, and 54 percent moved to homeless shelters. The working poor as well as middle class families have been hit hard by the subprime mortgage crisis. Michael Stoops of the NCH describes the current climate and the patterns of homelessness the group is seeing across the country: “Shelters are full, and it’s getting worse. There are more homeless homeowners, people who first try to downsize, then wind up living with family and friends or in vehicles. At the shelters, there’s almost no room at the inn.” In addition to turning to shelters for help, many homeless families are also seeking help from charities for food and other aid. Public school systems are serving more children without permanent addresses; according to a report issued by First Focus, the subprime mortgage crisis will affect two million children nationwide.

6. USDA Mobilizes Food Resources to Help Midwest Residents
(USDA Fact Sheet, June 26, 2008)

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has approved the Disaster Food Stamp Program for operation in Midwestern states affected by the recent storms and floods. A total of 126 counties in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin are receiving the benefits of Disaster Food Stamps. As of June 26, 2008, $4 million in food stamps have been provided to “nearly 8,000 new and nearly 4,000 ongoing households” in the affected states. In addition, Summer Food Service sites in the disaster areas with significant numbers of persons displaced by the floods have received program requirement waivers. In Iowa, a food stamp waiver has allowed the benefits to be used for hot foods in retail food stores. FNS has also contacted states that could be affected by additional floods, and continues to “work with states on requests for Disaster Food Stamp Program assistance.”

7. Information Snag Causes Disaster Food Stamp Confusion Among Flood Victims
(WISH-TV8,June 20, 2008; Indianapolis Star, June 21, 2008)

Indiana’s Marion County residents who applied for food stamps through the Disaster Food Stamp Program as one way of dealing with the devastating floods and tornados in the region left disaster relief offices without food stamps after waiting in long lines and receiving conflicting information about the application process. Some county Family and Social Services Administration offices told victims (incorrectly) that they needed to provide documentation of their losses; victims are only required to sign affidavits stating they were affected. In addition, victims at other offices thought they could pick up food stamps at the same time they applied. Standing in long lines for hours, some tempers flared when individuals found out they must wait for the benefit. According to FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob, people affected by the floods should have been told to fill out an application and then go home to wait for a response. Roob says he doesn’t know if the confusion was a result of misinformation or people not understanding the process.

8. Food Stamps Helping More but Buying Less
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 26, 2008)

Washington State’s food stamp application numbers are hitting record highs as residents search for ways to cope with hikes in food prices – including more than 30 percent increases in the costs for staple food items like grains, milk and eggs. 40,000 state residents signed up for food stamps between March 2007 and 2008 – a six percent increase - although the benefit is buying less and less. Food stamp recipient Janet Farrar, who uses the vouchers to supplement her disability income, said the benefit runs out long before the end of each month. Glynnis Ashley, administrator for food policy at the state’s Department of Social and Health Services, noted “[food stamps are] the biggest weapon we have against hunger in the United States. A few dollars just might be the difference between eating three square meals a day or going hungry.” The state plans on raising the household income limit from $26,900 for a family of four to $42,400 this fall, a move which should add 23,000 families to the 294,519 households currently enrolled. In addition, the state plans to funnel $200,000 to food banks struggling with high gas costs which has forced some to close.

9. Ohio Food Stamp Use at Record High; Rich and Poor Currently Seeking Assistance
(Columbus Dispatch, June 18, 2008; Columbus Dispatch, June 17, 2008)

More than one million Ohioans – more than one in 10, a record number for the state – are currently enrolled in the Food Stamp Program. Half of them are children. Many families seeking food and other types of public assistance are working full time or have two part-time jobs, “…but still struggle to feed their children,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH. “Ohio families are struggling to pay their housing costs, fill their gas tanks and put food on their tables,” he noted. “It’s alarming that the number of Ohio families in need of food assistance has risen so rapidly in the past year.” The Columbus area has seen the steepest rise in those seeking food stamps and public assistance – a 9.4 percent jump from the year before. Dayton, at 9.2 percent is close behind, and Cleveland saw a 6 percent jump in numbers. These numbers reflect the fact that the numbers of Ohio residents living below the poverty line rose 43 percent between 1970 and 2004. Currently, 14 percent of Ohioans live at or below the poverty level, and one-third are below 200 percent of the poverty level. The state’s food stamp numbers doubled since 2001; across the state, people seeking food stamps and public assistance increased 7.3 percent over the past year.

In a related story, formerly well-off Ohioans are finding themselves seeking public assistance by visiting food banks. In a newly-released report, titled “Income Trends in Ohio Communities,” economist George Zeller notes “…in Ohio, decreasing levels of income inequality since 2000 have been caused by declining incomes for taxpayers in communities all across Ohio.” He writes that the impact of the recession has hit almost everyone: “The rich got poorer and the poor got poorer at the same time.” As a result, The Salvation Army in Greater Columbus’ food pantry experienced a “huge increase” in families requesting help. And The Far North Side food pantry is seeing more first-time visitors. The pantry, serving in the area’s more affluent neighborhoods, hands out brand-name groceries and provides bags with supermarket chain logos, which some feel quells embarrassment for those seeking help.

10. Forum will Address Local Food Insecurity Issues
(Kingsport Times News, June 21, 2008)

The United Way of Greater Kingsport, Tenn., is responding to high food and fuel prices by convening a Food Insecurity Forum on July 10. Many families in the Kingsport area find it difficult to keep food on the table due to the current economic slump. Low-income and fixed-payment households are finding it particularly difficult to deal with the high cost of food. Many of these households have children already receiving assistance through the free and reduced-price meal programs at their schools. Local food pantries and other feeding programs are straining under the load of having to serve steadily increasing numbers of people seeking help. Organizers of the Food Insecurity Forum will bring together local organizations to discuss the ongoing problem and outline solutions.

11. High Prices Force Even More Floridians to Apply for Food Stamps
(TampaBays10.com, June 24, 2008)

The current economy’s triple threat of high food prices, high fuel prices, and rising unemployment has sent more and more Florida families to seek help from the state. Pat Smith of the Florida Department of Children and Families noted that the increased numbers of applicants are beginning to strain the state’s abilities. “We are managing.” she said. “I’m not sure how long we’re gonna be able to keep up the pace.” Counties showing significant increases in food stamp applications, along with Medicaid and other forms of assistance, are:

Citrus: 40% increase in applications.
Hernando: 71%
Hillsborough: 33%
Pasco: 39%
St. Johns: 51%
Sarasota: 59%.

12. CDC Reports Significant Rise in Population with Diabetes
(Foodnavigator.com, June 25, 2008)

Recently published 2007 prevalence data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that three million more Americans have diabetes compared to two years ago. The disease still disproportionately affects the elderly (25 percent of senior citizens 60 years and older in 2007), and occurs in eight percent of the total U.S. population, or 24 million Americans. Diabetes awareness is also rising, as the report found 25 percent of sufferers did not know they had the disease, down from 30 percent two years ago. Some ethnic groups still have high prevalence rates:

North Americans and Alaska Natives: 16.5 percent
Blacks: 11.8 percent
Hispanics: 10.4 percent.

Asian Americans have a 7.5 percent rate, and whites 6.6 percent. The Southeast and Appalachia also have high diabetes rates, in addition to their higher rates of heart disease and stroke. The latest diabetes data is available on the CDC Web site.
CDC Diabetes data and fact sheet: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDTSTRS/FactSheet.aspx

13. High Food Costs Almost Sink Summer Lunches
(Times Daily, June 26, 2008)

Officials in Sheffield, Alabama, struggling to provide summer lunches to children in spite of the rising cost of food, were about to cancel the Sheffield program due to projected losses of $1,500. The government reimbursement rate for the meal program would only be $2.75 per child each day, not enough to cover operating costs. Sheffield director of parks and recreation Mike Johnson procured more economical thaw-and-serve meals which provided the necessary nutrients to conform to program standards; the children liked them as well. The Sheffield program, the first in the area, is one of the only ones still in operation. High food costs have forced the closure of the Florence Housing Authority’s program, which was continued through the local Boys and Girls Club. According to the Alabama Department of Education’s James Peoples, administrator for the child and adult care meal programs, small programs are hardest hit by prices. Even with federal help, he said “[w]e lose three to four every year.”

14. School Year End Means End of Meals for Many Houston Children
(Houston Chronicle, June 26, 2008)

Free breakfast and lunch programs “are sporadic” in the Houston, Texas area during the summer. As a result, the two million schoolchildren who rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school year are without meal services for a two-month summer stretch. With the economic slowdown, and high food prices – especially among staple items – summer 2008 looks to be particularly dire for the area’s children. In Harris County, 25 percent of children live at or below the poverty line; they and their families are struggling harder this year due to double digit food inflation. Families in need of help are encouraged to apply for food stamps – only 60 percent of those eligible across the state are enrolled, and only 40 percent in Harris County. In addition to helping the 35,000 people in Houston struggling against hunger, food stamps also stimulate the local economy as recipients purchase food with the assistance through farmers, grocers and small businesses.

15. Illinois State Law Guarantees Summer Meals for Children
(Suburban Chicago News, June 27, 2008)

A new Illinois state law requires that districts with summer school classes provide breakfast and lunch to anyone under 18 in the community. School districts with 50 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals are mandated to comply through this law. The program in some schools started out slowly, although Joliet Central High School saw the number of students eating breakfast climb from six to 32 in one week. Posters at other schools announce the program. Still, administrators and teachers have not seen many children from the community show up.

16. New Hampshire School Board Raises Lunch Prices
(Fosters Daily Democrat, June 26, 2008)

School board members in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recently voted unanimously to raise the prices of lunches in all of the city’s schools. In addition, the board noted the need to address, in a future work session, issues surrounding school wellness and nutrition programs, including low student participation in breakfast and lunch and ways to keep the nutrition program self-sustaining. School Nutrition Director Pat Laska said that the number of meals sold in the past year is down, and part of the problem lies in the poor reputation school meal programs have. School superintendent Robert Lister commented “The big picture is not just about raising lunch prices …we need to support, as a board, the nutrition program because we have not done that.”

17. Austin School Board Keeps Meal Prices at Current Levels
(Austin Daily Herald, June 26, 2008)

In spite of rising food prices, Austin Public School students will pay the same for breakfast and lunch during the 2008-2009 school year as they paid all last year. The school district increased adult meal prices for the coming year and plans a student price increase in 2009-10. Students pay anywhere from 75 cents for breakfast to $1.90 for lunch, depending on the school. School meals have been profitable for the district in the past, enabling the purchase of new kitchen equipment. In addition, the summer lunch program brought in a profit last year, and is expected to do even better this year.

18. Local WIC Program Moves to Debit Card System
(Austin American-Statesman, June 12, 2008)

The Williamson County and Cities Health District WIC program has moved from distributing paper vouchers to issuing WIC Lone Star Smart Cards to program recipients in this Texas county. The cards, which work like debit cards, are good for three months of WIC program benefits. Recipients can purchase items with the cards throughout the month instead of all at once, although each card contains a monthly spending limit. Speaking on the change, Tina Horkey, WIC division director, said “This is a way to bring WIC program’s benefits transfer into the 21st century and to provide a more efficient way to deliver benefits.”

19. New York’s Street Food Gets Healthier in Comprehensive Move to Improve New Yorker’s Lives
(Chicago Tribune, June 24, 2008; New York Times City Room blog, June 25, 2008)

Low-income neighborhoods in New York City will see a new kind of food cart later this summer, as the city issues licenses to 500 food carts that will only sell fresh fruit and vegetables. Carts in the Mayor’s “Green Carts” program will be restricted to the city’s low-income areas and give people who lack access to healthier foods an alternative to the hot dogs, soft pretzels and breakfast rolls usually available on the street. Currently, only 10 percent of the city’s 4,100 street vendors – concentrated in Midtown – offer fresh produce, but they’re accessible to the lunch crowds and more affluent New Yorkers. Grocery stores are criticizing the program, out of fear the carts will set up shop outside their doors and siphon off customers. Other critics say that just because the carts will offer fresh fruits and vegetables doesn’t mean people will buy them. A public information campaign is being launched to educate the public about the Green Cart program; Mayor Bloomberg said “…the hot dog may be a cherished New York institution…with this legislation, we aim to make the ‘Green Cart’ just as ubiquitous and loved.” The carts are another step in New York’s ongoing initiative to help residents live healthier lifestyles and deal with the 17 percent rise in the obesity rate announced this past spring.

In addition to the Green Cart program, New York Commission on the Public Health System director Judy Wessler notes that the city is contacting people who may be eligible for food stamps and encouraging them to apply, and the City Council “also provided funding for an obesity prevention initiative.” Wessler notes that physical activity is important for overweight and obese children, particularly those Black and Latino children who, research shows, are more likely to be overweight. “It does not help that, as I understand it, there are schools that are overcrowded and have no gymnasium or playground for the students to use,” said Wessler, and added that the city’s diverse populations means that “one size does not fit all” when it comes to program offerings and initiatives. “There is a need to tailor messages and be culturally competent in approaching people about food and how they cook,” she said.

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