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.
1. House Committee Hears Food Stamps Needed in Next Stimulus Package
(Seacoast Online, October 27, 2008)
Economic Policy Institute economist Jared Bernstein told the full House Committee on Education and Labor that food stamps, along with infrastructure funding, state fiscal assistance, and unemployment, are crucial to the next economic stimulus package in order to battle forecasted rising unemployment rates, reduced average income, and increased poverty over the next few years. At the hearing, titled “Building an Economic Recovery Package: Creating and Preserving Jobs in America,” Bernstein recommended that the one-year package should be one to two percent of the gross domestic product, or between $150 and $300 billion.
2. Improved Safety Net Must Be Goal of Next Economic Stimulus
(The Washington Post, October 19, 2008)
Congress should expand and extend food stamps and unemployment benefits in the next economic stimulus package, as well as conduct outreach to make sure that everyone eligible for these programs receives them, write Peter Edelman (Georgetown University law professor), Mark Greenburg (senior fellow at the Center for American Progress), and Harry Holzer (Urban Institute senior fellow) in this editorial. They also say that helping the needy find jobs or maintain their incomes should be another priority. The current economic downturn, coupled with analysts forecasting even deeper financial troubles and higher unemployment figures in the future, will not only affect most Americans, but also will hit low-income households most severely. The current safety net in place to protect jobless workers is inadequate, particularly so for low-income workers who were struggling before the economy started downward. The government made welfare more restrictive, they write, and approximately one-fourth of low-income single mothers are cut off from benefits or work during the year. Even more single mothers will join their ranks as jobs disappear and the economy moves into recession. Other low-income groups, such as legal immigrants, will also find it hard to access public assistance. Current unemployment benefits only cover a third of all workers who lose their jobs; a fraction of that number are low-income workers. Unemployment should be extended to those workers through the next economic stimulus plan. The authors conclude: “As we prepare for a serious economic downturn and plan to spend large sums to limit its effects, we should keep in mind the needs of all Americans – especially those who will be most hurt by whatever comes to pass.”
3. USDA Study Shows Benefits to Changing Food Stamp Asset Rules
(USDA Economic Research Service, October 31, 2008)
USDA published results of a “microsimulation model” that assesses the number of households that would be eligible for food stamps and their benefit levels if asset rules are either removed or reduced. The findings show:
An additional three percent of households would be eligible if asset limits were raised by $2,000;
22 percent more households would be eligible if asset limits were eliminated;
Two percent more if retirement accounts were excluded; and
Less than half of 1 percent more if vehicles were excluded.
In 2006, seven percent of eligible households were eligible only through expanded categorical eligibility rules that exempted the households from the standard federal asset rules, and that one percent of eligible households were eligible because of state rules that counted fewer vehicle assets toward the asset limits.
4. USDA Announces 2008 Hunger Champions
(USDA/FNS, October 28, 2008)
Ten honorees showing “exemplary service conducting outreach activities and assisting eligible clients to obtain nutrition benefits in the…Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)” were announced by Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Nancy Montanez Johner as the 2008 Hunger Champion Awardees. “It is an honor to recognize local offices that go the extra mile to ensure people in need have access to nutrition information and benefits,” said Johner. She added that a top priority of USDA is helping low-income people access healthy food. These offices implemented “innovative strategies” and created partnerships that increased SNAP participation. Hunger Champions are selected by USDA from 81 nominations submitted by State and local offices and advocacy organizations across the country. The nominations are reviewed by a committee of representatives from FRAC, Feeding America, American Public Human Services Association, National Eligibility Workers Association, World Hunger Year, and USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.
5. Medical and Scientific Experts Chosen for Joint USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines Committee
(Webwire, October 27, 2008)
Thirteen nationally-recognized experts, prominent medical figures as well as scientific researchers from universities and science institutions, have been appointed to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the appointments. The committee is tasked with advising the Secretaries on nutritional and dietary revisions to the current guidelines; it will review scientific literature, receive and consider public comment, and deliberate in open forums to prepare an advisory report to be submitted to USDA (the administrative lead for 2010) and HHS and used in setting up the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Congress mandates that these guidelines be reviewed for revision every five years. Based on scientific, medical and related knowledge, the guidelines inform the general public as well as government policymakers in ways proper nutrition can improve the health of Americans.
6. FRAC Data Shows Low Food Stamp Participation in San Diego County
(San Diego Union-Tribune, November 2, 2008)
Thousands are missing out on nutrition assistance in San Diego County as only 29 percent of residents eligible for food stamps receive the benefit according to FRAC’s “Food Stamp Access in Urban America” report. San Diego has the lowest rank among the 24 metropolitan areas studied in the report, which uses census data from 2006; the low participation means that more than $100 million is left unclaimed in food stamp benefits, which also means that county retailers miss out. “It’s really frustrating to see the numbers are so low in our county,” said Jennifer Tracy, outreach coordinator for the San Diego Hunger Coalition. Critics say that county policies discourage people from signing up, including a policy requiring food stamp recipients be subject to home searches in order to protect against fraud. Advocates support allowing applications to be filed over the phone and online, as well as hiring more bilingual caseworkers, which could help raise participation numbers.
7. SNAP Program, New Name for Food Stamp Program, Served Recent Hurricane Victims Well
(Austin American-Statesman, October 17, 2008)
In this editorial, Nancy Montanez Johner, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at USDA, commends the response of federal, state and local officials together with community organizations and volunteers in providing food and other help to victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and reminds the country that not only does the government respond in a regional crisis, but to individuals experiencing daily economic hardship as well. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, has provided nutrition assistance to needy households for the past 30 years. “Participants reflect the landscape of our diverse Nation,” writes Johner, “children (who represent over half of all beneficiaries), the elderly, working families, legal immigrants…on average, individuals and families enroll for nine months at a time to rebuild their lives and achieve self-sufficiency.” Changing the name from Food Stamps to SNAP “reflects a modern nutrition assistance program that delivers benefits electronically, reducing the stigma of participation and achieving payment accuracy that assures the highest level of program integrity.” Johner concludes by noting “No one in America should go hungry and all Americans should have access to a healthful diet… In this period of rising household costs and economic uncertainty, I am proud that our generous Nation makes nutrition assistance available to families in their time of need.”
8. As Food Stamp Application Goes Online, More Library Workers Called On for Assistance
(Gainesville Times, October 25, 2008)
As more and more people apply online for food stamps and other assistance programs, they are using library computers to access the online applications. With more government services and application moving online, library workers find they are called upon to help applicants navigate the online forms and requests. Florida residents will be able to pre-screen for various services and file applications online starting in November, which will bring “a new set of challenges, said Hall County Library System director Adrian Mixson. “It’s just one more thing that we’re finding ourselves doing for our community, and sometimes not always well-trained to do…Every time the state government seems to lay off people, it seems to be sending them from the state office to the local public libraries,” Mixson said. Edna Jackson, spokesperson for the Department of Human Services, said that USDA provided a grant to expand food stamp applications online and people do not have to apply through the library computers – they can also use work and home computers. Jackson added that if clients don’t have access to computers, they can still call their case workers or visit the Human Services offices.
9. Higher Food Stamp Demand in Florida Creating Backlog of Applications
(Orlando Sentinel, October 31, 2008)
In Florida, food stamp applications are up a record 31 percent, causing backlogs at processing centers where clients phone in for mandatory interviews or fax supporting documents. Some food stamp applicants in Florida’s Osceola County have waited up to 75 days to have their applications approved, well beyond the federal 30-day timeframe, due to increased numbers of applicants over the past year. Cynthia Osterling, a 49-year-old Kissimmee widow who cleans vacation homes for a living, said she “tried hundreds of times to get through. It’s either busy, or it just rings and rings. The only thing I had left to eat was a couple of cans of peas and corn. I was starving.” Florida’s application process has been praised in the past, winning a $5 million performance bonus award for error reduction last month from USDA; the state starting switching over to its “first-in-the-nation computerized application process,” called ACCESS, beginning in 2005. Osceola County was using an older process until a week ago; the County still has a backlog of 1,000 applications. “We have the problem on our radar,” said Carrie Hoeppner, communications director for the state’s Department of Children and Families, central region, “and there’s some work we’re doing to correct the situation. But it’s still going to be tough for some people in the meantime.” The state is unlikely to hire additional staff to help with the backlog due to budget cuts. And limited benefits are available for extreme cases, such as families with children but without income or savings – in these cases, approval can be granted quickly and families can get food the next day. Expedited approval can get a single person a maximum benefit of $176 a month; a family of four, a maximum of $588 a month.
10. Economy Forces Family in Restaurant Business onto Food Stamps, WIC
(Montgomery Advertiser, October 26, 2008)
Bill Minton of Palm Bay, Fla, manages a family restaurant, yet his family is on food stamps and receives WIC vouchers due to the current high food prices and the stormy economic climate. He and his wife, Jenny, both feel the next president should support federal nutrition programs. “I don’t think it’s a waste of money,” said Jenny Minton, who compared it to the $700 million financial bailout package. “For all the money the government spends on things that are not necessary, I think they should be focusing more on families.” Bill Minton makes about $25,000 in his job, when the restaurant is doing well, and works seven days a week, with one day off per month. However, with food prices rising six percent over the past year, these costs have cut the restaurant’s profits. “Everything’s gone up,” he said. “Food’s gone up more than I can raise the prices and still keep customers coming in here” Also, the family has less money for groceries, and Jenny Minton watches every penny she spends.
11. Montana Food Banks Struggle with Increased Demand; SNAP Program Helps with Need
(Great Falls Tribune, October 27, 2008)
Montana is promoting the SNAP program (formerly called the Food Stamp Program) as a way to help food banks “overrun” by residents dealing with the economic meltdown and job layoffs. “We’re telling people that food stamps should be a routine monthly supplement to their nutritional budget while the food banks should be used for emergencies…if they’re visiting the food banks regularly, they should be on food stamps,” said Hank Hudson, administrator of the State Department of Health’s Human and Community Services Division in Helena. Food banks have noticed more grandparents raising grandchildren and having a hard time providing food on their limited budgets, as well as more adults moving in with their parents after losing their jobs. Applying for the benefit is now easier, as people are no longer required to visit the Office of Public Assistance. Instead, they can apply at a local food bank or through the school lunch program. The food banks are also suffering from diminished donations, particularly from a court ruling that found a popular annual food drive in violation of the Montana Judicial Standards Commission’s ethics rules. Before, trial defendants were able to make donations to food banks in lieu of fines. The Commission sent a letter stating the practice must be stopped to the state’s municipal judges. “That really caused a crimp for us,” said Gayle Carlson-Gifford, director of the Great Falls Community Food Bank. Since the drive began in 1994, it has provided more than 23 tons of food to the food banks.
12. Students Take Their Own Food Stamp Challenge
(The Pine Log, October 30, 2008)
Applied Nutrition students at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas tried to live on $21 in groceries for one week, simulating the experience of some food stamp recipients. Most of the eight students taking the challenge failed, as hunger and other pressures forced them to give up in the middle of the week. “It was pretty horrible,” said Clay Stephens, a senior. “All I really thought about was food, what was for dinner. It was not nearly adequate for someone to live on.” Each student, however, agreed that their nutrition needs weren’t being met and that the amount of money, and the food it purchased, was not enough for one person to live on. Diets for many of the students consisted of peanut butter, soups, cereals, beans, and rice. Scott Berkowitz found his afterschool activities suffered. “I work at the Rec Center,” he said, “and I teach high intensity workouts…so it was really hard.” Dr. Brenda Marques, who teaches the Applied Nutrition course, also took the challenge and lasted for five days. “It was totally inadequate in diary products and calcium and very repetitious,” she said. “As a nutrition teacher, I have always thought that low-income diets predispose people to chronic illness, but now I see that it might also affect their short illnesses as well, like colds or flu.” She also noted the disparity between the foods low-income people can afford and the government’s nutritional suggestions for a healthy diet.
13. Officials Call on USDA to Preserve Philadelphia School Meal Eligibility Pilot
(Philadelphia Inquirer, October 28, 2008; Philadelphia Daily News, October 30, 2008)
Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey (D) and Arlen Specter (R) joined Philadelphia Mayor Nutter this week in calling on USDA to cancel its plans to take away a waiver that has eased Philadelphia's effort to have a universal meals program in schools. The 17-year-old program has been credited with raising school meal participation rates to nearly twice that of other sites. [Editor's note: The school district of Philadelphia has operated the program as an experimental pilot using community census data rather than applications to determine the proportion of children who get federal free- or reduced-price reimbursement. Philadelphia schools then serve breakfast and lunch free to all students, negating the need for families to fill out forms. Last year, USDA required the city's school district to do a re-count of the numbers of low-income students in the schools; this analysis confirmed that nearly 80 percent of public school students are from households that fall below USDA's threshold for federally-subsized meal access.] A letter to the Secretary of Agriculture, signed by Senators Specter and Casey, and Representatives Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz, said that "Ending programs, such as Philadelphia's Universal Feeding Program, that chart the way for the future of anti-hunger efforts not only undermines our future efforts but reverses the good work we have done to date." Casey suggested that USDA was cancelling the program because other cities showed interest in also using its eligibility process. USDA said prior to the legislators' announcement that the agency preferred keeping track of free- and reduced-price meals through applications as that system was more accurate.
14. Project Bread Reports Hunger Skyrocketing in Massachusetts
(MarketWatch, October 31, 2008)
The leading anti-hunger organization in Massachusetts, Project Bread, released its 2008 Status Report on Hunger, which shows low-income individuals and families are experiencing “disquieting trends” of “sharp and continuing” increases in hunger. Commenting on the report, Ellen Parker, Project Bread executive director, said “High food prices combined with the current economic crisis are driving a crisis in food insecurity that is broader and deeper than we’ve seen before in this state. There is every indication that hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts citizens will need help to cover the basics – including many who have never needed help before.” Across the state, eight percent of residents experience hunger or food insecurity. In addition, data collected by Project Bread’s hunger screening project Food for Families shows that more than 70 percent of families have run out of money to make a meal. Close to one-third of families say they’ve reduced the size of their children’s meals, or their child has missed a meal completely, because they ran out of money. Solutions advocated by the report include enrolling every eligible resident in federal nutrition programs (food stamps, school meals, and other programs), and bringing the organization’s Better Breakfast and Better Lunch guidelines “to scale” in low-income schools, which would help an estimated 300,000 children.
Link to report: http://www.projectbread.org/statusreport
15. Officials at Food Summit Promote Federal Food Programs to Consumers
(New Haven Register, October 30, 2008)
The “Affordable Food Summit” at a Stop & Shop in Connecticut, hosted by state Senate President Donald Williams and the grocery chain, encouraged consumers to call the state’s 211 hot line for information about food stamps, school breakfast and lunch programs, and meals on wheels. The need is pronounced in Connecticut, where the Greater Hartford Food Bank distributes 14 tons of food each day, 365 days a year. While many individuals have been ineligible for federal nutrition programs and other help in the past, Lucy Nolan of End Hunger Connecticut! told the attendees that regulatory changes, especially those in the Food Stamp Program (now called SNAP), mean that now more people qualify, and said that more information is available at the organization’s Web site, www.endhungerct.org.
16. Children Need Recess to Learn, But Minority Students Missing Out
(Macon.com, October 14, 2008)
In order to bolster math and reading scores, many predominantly-minority schools have cut recess in favor of extra class time. For some schools, recess is cut because the schools lack playground equipment or are in unsafe neighborhoods. In Macon, Georgia’s Hartley Elementary, third-grade students go directly from lunch to the computer lab for math instruction. Across the region, students get an average of 15 to 30 minutes of recess each school day, while other students get less or none, according to a survey conducted by the Macon Telegraph. Recess is necessary, say education experts, as it provides an outlet that helps students focus in the classroom. According to a Center for Public Education report, schools across the country provided more recess in the years before the No Child Left Behind act required school testing and accountability measures. The Act had the effect of reducing recess for a reported 20 percent of schools, replacing that time with English and math instruction. While recess still remains in many schools, “There exists a recess gap,” said Patte Barth, director of the Center for Public Education. According to the report, children attending the highest poverty, highest minority schools “are the least likely to get recess at all.” Some statistics showing the trend: Approximately 14 percent of high minority elementary schools and 18 percent of high poverty schools don’t give first graders recess. Only 2 percent of low-minority elementary schools and 4 percent of low-poverty rate schools lack recess.
17. Study Finds Significant Link Across Board Between Family Income and Child Health
(Stateline, October 8, 2008)
A study released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America found child health disparities not only between low-income/poverty-level families and other groups, but also between middle-income and wealthy families. These disparities, particularly those between poor children and the rich, are a concern for America, noted the report, which “vividly illustrates how much parents’ income and education levels matter when it comes to children’s health,” said one of the authors. “They matter a lot.” However, the gap that exists is “so entrenched” that it cannot be closed by a major expansion in health care – underlying social conditions must be changed to make a difference. Examples of these conditions, according to the report’s authors, are poverty-stricken neighborhoods without grocery stores selling healthy food like fresh fruit, and the children in unsafe neighborhoods who lack access to parks and recreation centers. 15.9 percent of children nationwide are not at optimal health; among the states, Texas (with 22.8 percent of children), California (22.5 percent) and Nevada (20.4 percent) are the three states with the highest percentage of children not at optimal health. For poor children, those number jump to 44.1 percent in Texas, 43.5 percent in Nevada and 41 percent in Nevada. Between poor and rich children, the state with the largest gap is Texas, with 44.1 percent of poor children not at optimal health versus 6.7 percent of rich children. States across the South and Southwest join Texas in having the largest gaps, while northern Midwest, Great Plains and Northeast states have the lowest gaps.
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