Hunger Solutions New York Blog

Resource Limit Increase for Newly Applying Families That Include a Senior/Disabled Member

2012-01-26T16:50:00.015-05:00

A new Food Stamp Policy Update is now available from Hunger Solutions New York concerning an increase in the resource limit for families with senior and disabled members.

NYS has released GIS 12TA/DC001 informing food stamp offices across the state that the resource limit for food stamp families with an elderly or disabled member has increased starting October 1, 20011. The limit is now set at $3,250 up from the previous limit of $3,000.

This new increase in the resource limit only affects families with a senior or disabled member who:

are NOT categorically eligible for the food stamp program and,
are currently applying for food stamp benefits, or
applied between October 1, 2011 and January 3, 2012.

Most families in NYS which include a senior or disabled member no longer need to meet a resource limit because of the expansion of Categorical Eligibility back in 2007.

Webinar: New Healthier School Meal Standards: What You Need to Know

2012-01-25T16:40:00.004-05:00

From the Food Research and Action Center:

NewHealthier School Meal Standards: What You Need to Know
February 2, 1:00 p.m. EST
Registerhere.

Now that the school meal standards are out, learn what you need to know aboutthe new rule, implementation timeline, and process.

Join FRAC and USDA for a webinar to learn moreabout this important opportunity for our nation’s children and how you can playa part in making the new standards a success.

New Standards for School Meals Released

2012-01-25T12:11:00.000-05:00

From the USDA:

USDA UnveilsHistoric Improvements to Meals Served in America’s Schools

New Standards Will Improve the Health and Wellbeingof 32 Million Kids Nationwide

First LadyMichelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school mealsthat will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new mealrequirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen yearsand improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participatein school meal programs every school day. The healthier meal requirements are akey component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by theFirst Lady as part of her Let’s Move! campaign and signed into law by PresidentObama.

Read more from the USDA press release

Read a preview of the Federal Register's Final Rule

Learn more on at our Child Nutrition Center/Related Tools and Resources page

Food stamps a necessary lifeline

2012-01-20T18:10:00.006-05:00

By Stacy Dean, Special to CNN
updated 1:28 PM EST, Thu January 19, 2012

Editor's note: Stacy Dean is the vice president for food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank that focuses on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income people.

CNN) -- In their attacks on the food stamp program, some Republican presidential candidates are leaving a deeply misleading impression of the nation's leading anti-hunger program. No one aspires to enroll, but for those who must, it is an essential lifeline that addresses one of the harshest impacts of poverty and unemployment -- hunger.

The food stamp program, now officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides about 46 million Americans in about 22 million low-income households with debit cards to buy food each month. Participants include families with adults who work in low-wage jobs, unemployed workers and people on fixed incomes, such as Social Security. About three-fourths of SNAP recipients live in households with children; more than one-quarter live in households with seniors or people with disabilities.

SNAP reduces poverty while providing people with much-needed help to buy food. The program kept more than 5 million people out of poverty in 2010 and lessened the severity of poverty for millions of others, under a measure of poverty that counts SNAP benefits as income.

SNAP is also highly efficient, with one of the most rigorous quality control systems of any public benefit program. In 2010, only 3 percent of payments went to ineligible households or to eligible households in excessive amounts. Payment accuracy has been improving in the past few years, despite a large increase in SNAP enrollment.

While some have attributed that enrollment increase to Obama administration policies -- Newt Gingrich has termed President Barack Obama the "food stamp president" -- in reality it has two main causes that have little to do with this administration.

read rest of article

Polling Data Find Broad Support for SNAP Among Voters

2012-01-19T15:44:00.001-05:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

FRAC released today new data from a poll conducted for FRAC by Hart ResearchAssociates over the last few days showing: overwhelming concern by voters abouthunger as a serious problem; overwhelming support for the food stamp program(the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP); and overwhelmingopposition to food stamp cuts.

These findings are true among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. FRAC’spress release summarizes the findings, including:

Seventy-seven percent of voters say cutting food stamps is the wrong way to reduce spending and only 15 percent favor cutting such assistance.
The opposition to cutting food stamps crossed party lines: 92 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Independents, and 63 percent of Republicans say this is the wrong way to reduce spending.
Only nine percent of those polled said they would be more likely to support a candidate who favors cutting funds for the food stamp program; half said they would be less likely.
Opposition to food stamp cuts is even more overwhelming than in polling data FRAC released in November 2010, when 71 percent said it was the wrong way to cut spending.
Voters are broadly concerned about the nation’s hunger problem: 81 percent say that low-income families and children not being able to afford enough food to eat is a serious problem.

The pressrelease, Hart Research memo summarizing the results, and poll results can befound on FRAC’s website.

Hunger Solutions New York Applauds Governor Cuomo for Food Stamp Program Initiative in State Budget Proposal

2012-01-17T16:18:00.003-05:00

Albany, NY -- Governor Andrew Cuomo stated his commitment to make sure that no child in New York goes to bed hungry in his annual State of the State address earlier this month. In addition, he made a commitment to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program. Today, he followed through on this commitment by increasing the state's investment in food stamp outreach in his FY 2012-2013 budget proposal.

"We commend Governor Cuomo for his increased investment in food stamp outreach and we are eager to work with him to achieve his goal," said Linda Phelan Bopp. Bopp is executive director of Hunger Solutions New York, a statewide organization that manages the state and federally-funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). NOEP funding was increased by $1 million in the governor's budget which will enable the food stamp outreach program to nearly double its efforts across New York State.

Click here to read our full press release.

Click here to learn more about governor Cuomo's budget proposal.

Job Opportunity at Hunger Solutions New York

2012-01-09T16:09:00.001-05:00

Communications Specialist

Statewide anti-hunger organization seeks new media andcommunications specialist for Albany-based position. The communications specialist will assist infood stamp benefit outreach and applicant assistance efforts in Nassau andSuffolk counties as part of a collaborative project. Join a team dedicated tohelping hungry New Yorkers enroll in the Food Stamp Program. Our organizationneeds someone who can work independently but collaborate well as part of ateam. The ideal candidate will be good at multi-tasking and be able to workwell under tight deadlines.

Main JobTasks and Responsibilities

Develop and implement new/social mediastrategy to raise awareness of the Food Stamp Program on Long Island.
Develop content and implement web-basedadvertising strategies.
Develop messaging to raise awareness ofnutrition assistance programs.
Staff bi-lingual "Help Line"fielding calls from Long Islanders seeking assistance applying for food stamps.

Education and Skills

Associates degree with 2 years communications or marketingexperience
Excellent written and communications skills
Excellent phone manners
Extensive experience with Microsoft Office
Experience and use of social media platformssuch as facebook, twitter and google+
Familiarity with working with multiple mediaincluding print, radio and advertising
General marketing experience
Familiarity with poverty issues
Familiarity of project's target populations ofnewly unemployed, older adults, immigrants, and single heads of householdsworking poor families.

Candidates who havethe following experience are strongly encouraged to apply:

extensive social media campaign experience
experience with Constant Contact emailmarketing, Abobe Creative Suite or Concrete 5 web editing
English-Spanish bilingual

Reports to: Director,Advocacy and Communications

Salary:

$30,000 + Fully paid company benefits, including health, dental,life, short and long-term disability. Company matched retirement plan isavailable after 6 months of employment. Other options available.

To beconsidered for this position, please email your resume, two writing samples and 3 professional references to jobs@HungerSolutionsNY.org no later than January 27, 2012.

Governor Cuomo Promises to Expand Food Stamp Outreach, End Child Hunger in New York State

2012-01-04T15:23:00.003-05:00

In Governor Andrew Cuomo's annual State of the State address today, he made particular note of child hunger across the state, expanding food stamp outreach and ending finger imaging requirements for applicants. Here is the quote directly from his statement made to more than 2,000 people in Albany:

No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry in New York

For all of our progress, there are still basic wrongs to right.
There is never an excuse for letting any child in New York go
to bed hungry. Statewide, 1 in 6 children live in homes
without enough food on the table. Yet 30 percent of New
Yorkers eligible for food stamps — over 1.4 million people —
do not receive them, leaving over $1 billion in federal funds
unclaimed every year. We must increase participation in the
food stamp program, remove barriers to participation, and
eliminate the stigma associated with this program. And we
must stop fingerprinting for food. No child should go hungry
in the great State of New York and we will do all that we can
to prevent it.

Hunger Solutions New York manages on of the country's largest food stamp outreach programs in the nation. The state and federally funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), present in only 36 counties, helps 25,000 households enroll in the Food Stamp Program annually. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo on his goal of expanding enrollment in the Food Stamp Program to all who are eligible.

Read the full address here.

New York Times Joins Chorus Calling for End to Finger Imaging for Food Stamp Benefits

2012-01-03T17:25:00.001-05:00

This week, The New York Times published an excellent editorial denouncing New York City's policy of requiring finger imaging of food stamp applicants.

Stigmatizing Food Stamps
Published: January 1, 2012

Five years ago, New York State stopped requiring that all applicants for food stamps be electronically fingerprinted. Recently, California and Texas ended their requirement, leaving New York City and Arizona the only jurisdictions to continue the stigmatizing requirement.

Click here to read more...

USDA: Online WIC Pre-screening Tool

2011-12-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

Launched online this fall from the USDA:

WIC provides supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

The WIC Prescreening Tool can be used to determine if you may be eligible for WIC benefits. This Prescreening Tool is not an application for WIC. To apply for WIC benefits, you must make an appointment at your WIC local agency.

This Prescreening Tool might ask you to enter the amounts of your household’s earned (wages, tips, etc.) and unearned income (child support, unemployment benefits, SSI, etc.). Before you begin, you may want to gather this information.

The WIC Prescreening Tool usually takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

AASA's New Webpage About 4 School Districts + Breakfast in the Classroom

2011-12-27T14:16:00.001-05:00

Superintendent Leadership to Enhance and Expand the School Breakfast Program in Urban Districts

AASA has received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to significantly increase the participation of needy children in the national school breakfast program using alternative breakfast strategies, as well as to increase interest, commitment and involvement of school system leaders in the program. The grant allows AASA to work with four urban school districts to enhance school breakfast programming.

Through a competitive process, AASA chose four districts to work with on the project. They are:

Brentwood Union Free School District; Brentwood, N.Y.

Cincinnati Public Schools; Cincinnati, Ohio

Riverside Unified School District; Riverside, Calif.

Syracuse City School District; Syracuse, N. Y.

Read more about each school district's breakfast in the classroom efforts on the AASA website.

Impact of COLA Increase for Food Stamp Recipients with Social Security Income

2011-12-22T13:28:00.002-05:00

On January 1, 2012 the Social Security Administration (SSA) will adjusts the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI), regular Social Security (SS) income and Social Security Disability Income (SSD) to reflect the increase in the cost of living (COLA). In January 2010 and 2011 there was no COLA adjustment.

Hunger Solutions New York has a new policy update that highlights the impact of this COLA adjustment for seniors and disabled people who receive food stamp benefits or who are currently NYSNIP recipients. The update also includes information on Medicare Part B premium changes which are also impacted by the SSI COLA change.

To veiw the memo and attachments click here.

Center for American Progress Study: Hunger is Suffering We All Pay For

2011-12-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

From the Center for American Progress:

"Research in this paper shows that hunger costs our nation at least $167.5 billion due to the combination of lost economic productivity per year, more expensive public education because of the rising costs of poor education outcomes, avoidable health care costs, and the cost of charity to keep families fed. This $167.5 billion does not include the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the other key federal nutrition programs, which run at about $94 billion a year.

We call this $167.5 billion America’s hunger bill. In 2010 it cost every citizen $542 due to the far-reaching consequences of hunger in our nation. At the household level the hunger bill came to at least $1,410 in 2010. And because our $167.5 billion estimate is based on a cautious methodology, the actual cost of hunger and food insecurity to our nation is probably higher."

According to the report, New York State had a hunger bill of $9.28 billion in 2010, a 30% increase from 2007.

Access the full report online.

Preventing Hunger and Protecting Taxpayers: Our Renewed Efforts to Combat SNAP Fraud

2011-12-09T12:50:00.004-05:00

From USDA Blog Posted by Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, on December 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM

In recent years, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps – has demonstrated an exceptional record in program integrity and stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The program currently serves as a bridge to success for over 46 million Americans who are at risk of being hungry when they face challenging economic times. More than half of those who rely on the program are children, elderly or the disabled, and many participants are newly unemployed and never thought they would be living in poverty. The program has never been more important and neither has the need to be a good steward of its dollars. In this vein, President Obama and Vice President Biden launched the Administration’s new Campaign to Cut Waste in government spending in June to eliminate misspent tax dollars and USDA strongly supports this effort.

Today we are reinforcing this commitment, strengthening our resolve to ensure program integrity and working on behalf of American taxpayers to protect the federal investment in SNAP and make sure the program is targeted towards those families who need it the most. While we recognize that fraud occurs relatively infrequently in SNAP, it has great potential to undermine public confidence in government and jeopardize the ability of the program to serve the millions of struggling families who rely on benefits each month.

Thankfully, the vast majority of SNAP recipients are honest people who spend their benefits to meet basic nutritional needs and to put food on the table. Data shows that illegal activity – such as selling benefits to others for cash – only affects roughly one cent on the dollar. Still, we cannot tolerate even the smallest abuse of taxpayer resources. That’s why we have implemented aggressive strategies to continue to improve SNAP integrity.

We actively investigate illegal activity so that we can remove any violators from the program. In fiscal year 2010 investigations of individuals and retailers resulted in over 44,000 persons being disqualified from SNAP and 931 retailers being permanently barred from accepting benefits. Going forward, we’re seeking to increase sanctions and penalties for retailers who engage in fraudulent activity and we’re using the regulatory process to fight the practice of buying and discarding food just to get money-back deposits.

By using state-of-the-art technology, our data-mining and analysis strategies are successfully identifying suspicious patterns in SNAP transactions. We’re already working on our next-generation system which will be even more effective. We’re aware that social media monitoring is also important to our efforts to prevent abuse in the program. For example, we recently updated our policies to make it very clear that advertising the sale of benefits through social media is illegal.

Again, cases of abuse in SNAP are relatively rare. But it’s important that we work to combat any amount of fraud. That means being aggressive in our investigations and working with our State partners who administer the program to remain vigilant and ensure that program benefits are used as intended. I’m proud to say that USDA takes protecting taxpayer dollars very seriously and we are on the job 24 hours a day to make sure others do too.

To veiw the USDA blog

USDA Press Release Annoucing New Tactics to Combat Fraud

New Report from NYC Coalition Against Hunger: Child Hunger On the Rise

2011-12-08T11:26:00.001-05:00

From the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH):

"New analysis of recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, conducted by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger and released today in their annual citywide hunger report, found that nearly 500,000 city children, or one in four, live in families that cannot afford an adequate supply of food – what the government calls “food insecure.” The Coalition’s calculations also showed that one in six New York City residents, 1.47 million New Yorkers, live in food insecurity, struggling against hunger.

A separate survey of New York City soup kitchens and food pantries, also included in the Coalition’s report, found that even as demand at city food pantries and soup kitchens grew by 12 percent this year – on top of a seven percent increase in 2010 and a 21 increase in 2009. In 2011, nearly fifty of these strapped emergency feeding programs closed their doors due, in part, to government cut-backs and decreases in private donations."

Read the citywide press release here.

Download the entire report, "Not Too Big to Fail: As NYC Hunger Soars, Feeding Programs Close Due to Government Cuts" here.

FRAC: Spending on Food by Tens of Millions of Americans Drops to Unhealthy Level

2011-12-08T10:42:00.001-05:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

"A new analysis of federal data by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) finds that more and more Americans have been losing the struggle to afford an adequate and healthy diet. Food spending by the average household fell dramatically over the past decade, with particularly dramatic drops in 2000-2002 and 2006-2010.

FRAC analyzed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) annual reports that compare the amount of households’ median spending on food to the amount of the Thrifty Food Plan – the level the government defines as needed for a bare bones diet on an emergency basis, albeit a level that many experts consider to be inadequate for most families to obtain a healthy diet. The FRAC analysis found that:

Spending on food by the median household fell from 1.36 times the Thrifty Food Plan level in 2000 to 1.19 times that level in 2010.

By 2010 median spending on food by Black households and Hispanic households had fallen to the point where it was only a tiny bit above (101 percent for Black households) or was actually below (96 percent for Hispanic households) the bare bones Thrifty level.

Spending by households with incomes less than 185 percent of the poverty level fell from 106 percent of the thrifty level in 2000 to 95 percent in 2010.

This dramatically reduced spending on food would not be so problematic if households were still spending amounts adequate to obtain a healthy diet. FRAC’s analysis shows that they are not: indeed, the median spending of all households has fallen below the amount of the government’s Low-Cost Food Plan, which is a much more realistic measure of spending to support health and well-being."

Read the FRAC press release here.

Access the full report online.

Opinion Piece: Food for thought

2011-12-06T11:56:00.001-05:00

Here's a great opinion piece posted on the Albany Times Union blog, The Observation Deck. the post highlights the rising need for food assistance in the Capital Region and how the Farm Bill can help.

Food for thought

December 4, 2011 at 6:00 am by TU Editorial Board

Our opinion: The needy and the hungry are more dependent than ever on others’ help. Food pantries are only a short-term solution.

This is what it’s like in the trenches of the battle to spare the hardest-hit victims of a horrible economy from outright misery. This is a story of trying to feed people.

In Schenectady, the word comes from a food pantry that the reality of the need that arises in an era of stubbornly high unemployment, mortgage foreclosures, escalating consumer debt and, yes, soaring food prices goes beyond the emergency provisions that charities can provide.

“Food pantries have become a fabric of our emergency safety net, and we deal with people who have chronic emergencies,” says the Rev. Phillip Grigsby, director of the Schenectady Inner City Ministry. “People don’t have enough money to live on.”

So he and his colleagues at similar entities employ the logical remedies. They are increasing, yet again, the number of times people can come to receive emergency food allotments designed to last all of three days. It used to be four times a year. Come January, it will be once a month.

Such anecdotes and examples reverberate across the Capital Region. So what can be done to help people who literally lack enough to eat, let alone maintain a healthy diet?

The availability of emergency provisions, funded statewide to the tune of $29 million a year, is at once essential yet incomplete.

There is a solution. Congress will be taking up the farm bill next year. Legislation that’s renewed just once every five years is an opportunity to reduce hunger and improve public health.

About 70 percent of what’s tentatively budgeted at $98.1 billion goes toward the food stamp program. The increased frequency of visits to food pantries is ample evidence that even $70 billion isn’t enough.

Upcoming Webinars: It's Not Too Early to Think About Summer Food

2011-12-05T14:54:00.001-05:00

USDASummer Webinar Series: USDA is hosting a series of introductorywebinars on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) beginning in December andrunning through February. The webinar gives an overview of SFSP, offersresources for getting started, and discusses outreach practices to grow theprogram. Clickhere for details.

FRACSummer Meals Matter Conference Call Series: “Summer OutreachPlans and Resources” is the topic for a FRAC conference call on January 10th at1:00 pm eastern time. Learn about successful outreach strategies that canincrease participation in your summer program. FRAC, USDA and Hunger FreeColorado will share strategies and resources to help you plan for your SummerProgram. Clickhere for details.

New Grant Aims to Convince More Syracuse Students to Eat Breakfast at School

2011-12-05T14:47:00.001-05:00

From the Syracuse Post-Standard, 11/30/2011:

"Syracuse is one of four school districts in the country to land a roughly $400,000 grant to entice more kids to eat the free breakfasts offered to them at school.

High school students soon will be able to use their identification swipe cards to get a bagged breakfast from a vending machine instead of partaking of the hot meals served in the cafeteria. And elementary students will be able to eat their breakfast in their classroom instead of the cafeteria."

Read the full article here.

Federal Budget Update, FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations

2011-11-30T10:57:00.002-05:00

On November 18th, President Obama signed HR 2112 into law, which provides funding to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and essential nutrition assistance programs.

The bill provides a total of $136.6 billion in funding for nutrition programs and efforts related to SNAP/Food Stamp Program, school meals, Summer Food Service Program, WIC, emergency food, farm to school, and more.

Regarding school nutrition, the bill limits the USDA's authority on the final rule regarding school meal improvement, modifying and/or limiting various recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.

Read more from the Food Research and Action Center, including a summary of funding levels for each program and a budget analysis.

NY Times: Line Grows Long for Free Meals at U.S. Schools

2011-11-30T09:10:00.001-05:00

From the New York Times:

"Millions of American schoolchildren are receiving free or low-cost meals for the first time as their parents, many once solidly middle class, have lost jobs or homes during the economic crisis, qualifying their families for the decades-old safety-net program."

"In New York, the Gates Chili school district west of Rochester has lost 700 students since 2007-8, as many families have fled the area after mass layoffs. But over those same four years, the subsidized lunch program has added 125 mouths, many of them belonging to the children of Kodak and Xerox managers and technicians who once assumed they had a lifetime job, said Debbi Beauvais, district supervisor of the meals program.

“Parents signing up children say, ‘I never thought a program like this would apply to me and my kids,’ ” Ms. Beauvais said."

Read the full article here.

Rise in Veterans and Military Families Seeking Food Assistance

2011-11-20T11:13:00.004-05:00

Coming off of Veterans Day, two reports have come out highlighting the rising struggles of our veterans and military families. Stars and Stripes reports that food stamp use at military commissaries is up sharply from four years ago. Nearly $88 million worth of groceries were purchased using food stamps at military commissaries in 2011, more than double the amount spent in 2008, according to the Defense Commissary Agency.

Additionally, the Food Bank for New York City reports on a similar rise in need among veterans. According to their report, From the Front Lines to the Bread Lines: Food Poverty Among Veterans, veterans’ households are making a range of sacrifices in order to make ends meet: more than 1 in 10 are unable to buy food because of rent or utilities; many more are reducing the quantity and quality of food they are purchasing. Further, the data show more than one third of veteran households would not be able to afford food for their families within three months of losing their household income.

Connect struggling veterans and military families to their local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program.

2011 Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

2011-11-16T11:50:00.012-05:00

The October 2011 version of "FOOD STAMPS IN NYS: An Elgibility Prescreening Guide" is now available on our website. This year's web version includes new tools for navigating the document and many links to additional resources.

This guide is designed for community based organizations, advocates and volunteers who are working with low-income families. The guide will help you determine if a family/individual may be eligible to recieve food stamp benefits. It is a great tool for those helping families/individuals in applying for the Food Stamp Program. The guide also provides detailed information on how to calculate an estimated food stamp benefit allotment for a family/individual.

Due to financial restraints we cannot provide printed copies of this guide, as we have in past years.

For questions concerning information in the guide please contact Dawn Secor, Food Stamp Specialist at dawn.secor@hungersolutionsny.org or by calling 518-436-8757 x 112.

USDA Warning about Phony SNAP Application Assistance

2011-11-15T17:49:00.002-05:00

Urgent Notice From USDA
SCAM Alert:
SCAMMERS OFFER PHONY SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

There have been reports of individuals placing ads on the internet, sometimes located on the side of legitimate articles, offering assistance for filling out SNAP applications.

The links will take you to another website where you may be asked to provide personal information, including credit card information. Do NOT provide this information. It can be used to allow other individuals to make unauthorized purchases on your credit card, or gain access to your bank accounts.

If you see any ad on the internet offering SNAP application assistance with a corresponding link, don’t click on it. Never provide any personal information, including credit card information on an unsecure Web Site. SNAP employees or service providers will never ask you for credit card information or for anything not on your State Agency application.

If you have already fallen victim to this or a similar scam, contact your credit card company immediately. You may also choose to file a police report. For more information on identity theft, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ .

USDA: At-Risk Afterschool Meal Handbook

2011-11-15T15:20:00.001-05:00

Afterschool care settings located in high-need areas may qualify to serve snacks and/or suppers at no charge to children.

Learn more from a June 2011 USDA publication, "At-Risk Afterschool Meals: A Child and Adult Care Food Program Handbook"

Determining Foods Covered Under Nutrition Assistance Programs is Not Always a SNAP

2011-11-15T15:14:00.001-05:00

From The Network for Public Health Law:

"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is under the microscope lately. People are debating about what foods and beverages should be eligible for SNAP benefits, and which businesses should be eligible to accept SNAP benefits. USDA recently updated the website page where it describes the foods eligible for SNAP. It’s not entirely surprising that SNAP is attracting more scrutiny. Use of SNAP has increased by about 50 percent during the recession to over 45 million Americans in July, 2011.

...Can we end hunger and malnutrition and eliminate obesity and diet-related disease? Are there ideas on which the public health and anti-hunger communities can agree?"

Read more of the blog posting here.

October Snow Storm, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

2011-11-02T19:35:00.006-04:00

With hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers still without power after a surprise snow storm hit much of the Hudson Valley, Hunger Solutions New York wants to inform food stamp recipients that if they have lost food purchased with their EBT card due to a power outage of more than 4 hours, they may be eligible for replacement food stamp benefits.

The recent snow storm has left many people in the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas without power for several days. Losing power for extended periods of time can result in food spoilage. If food stamp recipients lost food that they purchased with their food stamp benefits, they should contact their local food stamp office immediately. If they are eligible, households will need to fill out a form in order to receive replacement food stamp benefits, but they must report the loss as soon as possible.

A flyer is now available for community organizations to help spread the word.

The form needed to request replacement benefits is available to download.

New: Factsheets About Children in Foster Care, Temporary Housing and Free School Meals

2011-10-27T17:49:00.004-04:00

New factsheets are now available regarding certain students who are categorically eligible for free school meals.

Visit our "Child Nutrition Center/Related Tools and Resources" page for more information or view the factsheets directly:

Key Information for Lawyers and Child Advocates about Foster Child Eligibility for Free School Meals and Other Government Nutrition Programs

Students in Temporary Housing & Free School Meals

FRAC: 11/3 Webinar About Afterschool Snack and Supper Program

2011-10-27T17:44:00.004-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

Join us for a webinar on operating the Afterschool Meal Program on weekends and during school holidays. Children need healthy meals when school is out for the weekend or during school holidays. Learn ways to incorporate meals into your weekend program and how you can successfully serve children during school holidays.

Thursday, November 03, 2011
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern

Visit the FRAC website for more information and to register

Action for For Healthy Kids Webinar: 10/27 School Breakfast Basics

2011-10-17T15:17:00.003-04:00

From Action for Healthy Kids:

School Breakfast Basics – Making the Case and Making It Work (webinar #1 in a series of 5)

Thursday, October 27, 2011
Time: 4:00-5:00pm ET

This session is designed to bring school breakfast beginners up to speed. Participants will gain a better understanding of the operation, funding, and benefits of the federal School Breakfast Program. You will leave the webinar with resources and next steps for improving school breakfast in your community.

This is a great webinar for anyone who is unfamiliar with the School Breakfast Program but wants to help ensure that all students are well nourished and ready to learn. We welcome any and all participants, including parents, teachers, principals, food vendors, advocates, and district administrators.

Hear from experts at the Food Research and Action Center, California Food Policy Advocates (The BreakfastFirst Campaign), and districts with successful school breakfast programs.

Click here to learn more and register online

Improving School Meal Standards: No Time to Go Backward

2011-10-17T12:09:00.004-04:00

This week, the US Senate will be reviewing funding for Agriculture Appropriations. Up for debate is an amendment urging the USDA to revisit the proposed school meal standards. This means possibly delaying or suspending the proposed standards, and/or creating a new set of school nutrition standards.

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):
"...children – and the nation – cannot wait any longer for these changes. Poor nutrition leads to a higher risk of obesity and diet-related diseases, and hunger also produces health and educational damage."

For more information, please see the following resources from FRAC:

Summary of SFSP Participation in NYS, Summer 2010

2011-10-17T12:06:00.002-04:00

Now available online, participation statistics for the SFSP in NYS for summer 2010.

Participation statistics for summer 2011 will be available in the future.

Visit our website for Bridging the Summer Nutrition Gap: SFSP in NYS, 2010 (text) and (tables).

Brentwood UFSD, Syracuse City SD Receive School Breakfast Grants

2011-10-17T12:03:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Brentwood UFSD and Syracuse City SD!

They are two of four urban school districts nationwide awarded funds from The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Walmart Foundation's Superintendent Leadership to Enhance and Expand the School Breakfast Program in Urban Districts.

Hunger Solutions New York serves on the national advisory board of this effort and looks forward to the expansion of the SBP in both school districts. Stay tuned for more information!

USDA's Ending Childhood Hunger Video Contest

2011-10-12T10:46:00.001-04:00

From the USDA:

Get your video cameras ready to help end hunger! The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) wants you to participate in the Ending Childhood Hunger Video Contest. We invite elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students to participate in the video contest (the "Contest"), which asks the question, "What are you doing to end childhood hunger in your community?"

FNS is accepting student-created videos of two minutes or less that show current activities or innovative ideas that tackle the problem of childhood hunger. Your videos will serve to inspire other students across the country to take action on this important issue.

Submissions must be made no later than October 21, 2011 at 11:59 PM EDT at http://endhunger.challenge.gov/submissions/new.

The Cost of Hunger in New York State

2011-10-11T10:26:00.003-04:00

The Center for American Progress released a report last week that estimates the cost of hunger in the United States to be over $167 billion. This cost includes avoidable illnesses and poor educational outcomes that occur as a result of food insecurity as well as the charitable donations for emergency food to address hunger.

The hunger bill for New York State is $9.28 billion which is an increase of 30.89 percent since 2007.

See how New York compares to other states by visiting the CAP interactive map.

More Families Eligible for the Food Stamp Program on October 1

2011-10-03T16:40:00.010-04:00

Each October 1 the Food Stamp Program (FSP) adjusts the guidelines used to determine the amount of food stamp benefits a household will receive. Our newest policy update highlights the increases to the FSP standards and deductions for October 1, 2011.

Due to these increases in the income guidelines more families could be eligible for the Food Stamp Program as of October 1st! This includes households who previously had been slightly “over income” for food stamps.

Help with applying for the Food Stamp Program available in many communities:
There are Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinators in many communities across NYS. NOEP coordinators are available to help potentially eligible individuals and families apply for food stamp benefits by:

Providing confidential screening to see if the family may be eligible for the FSP.

Assisting with completing the application including the online application.

Answering any questions households may have.

Working with current recipients around recertification or other issues with their food stamp case.

Find out if there is a NOEP coordinator in your community.

If you have any questions about this FSP policy update, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact Dawn Secor at (518) 436-8757, ext. 112, or by e-mailing Dawn.Secor@hungersolutionsny.org.

Replacement Food Stamp benefits extended for victims of both Irene and Lee

2011-09-26T14:38:00.008-04:00

OTDA has instructed food stamp offices in the counties affected by both Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee to continue to accept requests for replacement of food stamp benefits even though the ten day window to report the loss has passed. The affected counties are the following:

Albany, Broome, Bronx, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Herkimer, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester Counties.

Food Stamp Offices in the counties listed above have been instructed to continue accepting requests for replacement of food stamp benefits due to loss of food until September 30.
Current food stamp recipients, in the counties listed above, who lost food due to flooding or power outages during Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee are eligible to apply for replacement food stamp benefits.
You should encourage folks to report their loss to their food stamp office ASAP.

For more information on Replacement Food Stamp Benefits see our memo on Flooding, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

A flyer is available for you to share with your clients about this important assistance available to any current food stamp recipient who has lost food due to power outages or flooding during Tropical Storm Lee. This flyer is also available in Spanish.

The form for requesting Replacement Food Stamp Benefits is available for you to download.

For More Informtion: There are Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) coordiantors in many communities across NYS. NOEP coordinators are available to help potentially eligible individuals and families apply for food stamp benefits.

NOEP coordinators can help families and individuals who may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits by:

Providing families with the form needed to request replacement food stamp benefits.
Helping families complete this form, and
Answering any questions families or community agencies may have.

Find out if there is a NOEP coordinator in your community!

Questions about replacement food stamp benefits call Hunger Solutions New York at 1-800-865-5542.

DISASTER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN COUNTIES HIT BY HURRICANE IRENE AND TROPICAL STORM LEE

2011-09-23T16:56:00.006-04:00

There is a Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) designated for the following counties:

Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Otsego, Schenectady, Schoharie, Tioga, Ulster, and Westchester.

Households needing help with food should apply for disaster food stamps at either their local disaster assistance service center or local food stamp office.

Applications deadlines for this program depend on the county and the program is available for a limited time. Households are encouraged to apply for disaster food stamp benefits as soon as possible.

Click here for more information and to download a detailed flyer with basic program guidelines.

Replacement Food Stamp Benefit Extension for Tropical Strom Lee

2011-09-22T16:58:00.019-04:00

OTDA has instructed food stamp offices in the counties affected by Tropical Storm Lee to continue to accept requests for replacement of food stamp benefits even though the ten day window to report the loss has passed. The affected counties are the following:

Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schenectady, and Tioga.

Food Stamp Offices in the counties listed above have been instructed to continue accepting requests for replacement of food stamp benefits due to loss of food until further notice.

Current food stamp recipients, in the counties listed above, who lost food due to flooding or power outages during Tropical Storm Lee are eligible to apply for replacement food stamp benefits.

You should encourage folks to report their loss to their food stamp office ASAP.

For more information on Replacement Food Stamp Benefits see our memo on Flooding, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

The form for requesting Replacement Food Stamp Benefits is available for you to download.

NOEP coordinators can help families and individuals who may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits by:

Providing families with the form needed to request replacment food stamp benefits.

Helping families complete this form, and

Answering any questions families or community agencies may have.

Find out if there is a NOEP coordinator in your community!

Questions about replacement food stamp benefits call Hunger Solutions New York at 1-800-865-5542.

Census Bureau Releases New Poverty Data SNAP Lifting 3.9 Million People Above Poverty Line

2011-09-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

From our friends at FRAC:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Adach, 202.986.2200 x3018

Washington, D.C. – September 13, 2011 – The Census Bureau reported today that 46.2 million people (15.1 percent) were living in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009. This is the largest number of Americans living in poverty since the Census Bureau started publishing these estimates in 1959.

For struggling families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) is making a huge difference. According to the Census Bureau, 3.9 million people – 1.7 million children – were lifted above the poverty line in 2010 under the alternative computation that counts SNAP benefits. In 2009, SNAP lifted 3.6 million people out of poverty.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual report on food insecurity showed levels of hunger and food insecurity for 2010 that were the same as 2009, although still about one-third higher than in 2007 before the recession wreaked havoc with America’s low-income and working families. The flat food insecurity rates are generally attributed to the growth in SNAP participation and the important boost in SNAP benefits that the President and Congress put in place beginning in 2009.

“SNAP lifted people out of poverty, and it helped keep hunger rates from rising. Both the poverty and hunger rates tell us that, while too many people continue to struggle, SNAP is a program that’s extremely important in helping people weather challenging times,” said FRAC President Jim Weill.

Other findings from the Census Bureau report include:
• Since 2007, the poverty rate has grown by 2.6 percentage points, from 12.5 percent in 2007 to 15.1 percent in 2010.
• Deep poverty (people living on incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line) grew from 6.3 percent (19 million people) in 2009 to 6.7 percent (20.5 million) in 2010.
• Even more telling is the increase in the number of families living below 125 percent of the poverty line, which means they are income-eligible for most federal nutrition programs. This number grew from 18.7 percent (56.8 million) in 2009 to 19.8 percent (60.4 million) in 2010.
The data further underscore the need for the President and Congress to pursue policies that spur job and economic growth and protect and improve safety net programs.

For further analysis, visit FRAC’s website.

Replacement Food Stamp Benefit Extension for Hurricane Irene

2011-09-09T15:08:00.023-04:00

Food Stamp Offices have been instructed by NYS to continue to take requests for replacement food stamp benefits from current food stamp recipients who lost power or experienced flooding due to Hurricane Irene and therefore lost food.

The new deadline for reporting their food loss is Friday, September 23.

You should still encourage people to report the loss to their food stamp office ASAP.

See our newest memo concerning the extension and highlighting clarifications on the Replacement Food Stamp policy.

All other power outages, and flooding due to storms last Sunday 9/4, and the rain this past week are not considered part of Hurricane Irene. People experiencing flooding or power outages due to these misfortunes are also eligible to request replacement food stamp benefits under the normal processing rules (report loss within 10 days of misfortune).

For more information on Replacement Food Stamp Benefits see our memo on Flooding, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

A flyer is available for your use to help spread the word about this important assistance available to any current food stamp recipient who has lost food due to power outages or flooding.

For More Information: There are Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinators in many communities across NYS. NOEP coordinators are available to help potentially eligible individuals and families apply for food stamp benefits.

NOEP coordinators can help families and individuals who may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits by:

Providing the form for households to request Replacement Food Stamps

Helping households complete this form, and

Answering any questions households may have.

Find out if there is a NOEP in your community.

If you have any questions about this memo, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 112, or by e-mailing Dawn.Secor@HungerSolutionsNY.org

Hurricane Irene/Flooding, Homeless Children, and School Meals

2011-09-09T12:04:00.004-04:00

Because of the rain from Hurricane Irene and continuous flooding throughout our state, many families with school-aged children have lost their homes, are displaced, are living in temporary shelters, and/or are experiencing changes in their households.

Children from these homes may be counted as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act and therefore automatically eligible for free school meals.

Read our latest memo about homeless/displaced children and school meals.

Use our outreach flyer to let families know.

Check our website for updates about The Food Stamp Program and Replacement Food Stamps.

New Data Show 1 in 8 New York State Households Struggling with Hunger

2011-09-08T14:09:00.003-04:00

Nearly 13 percent of New York households struggled with hunger on average in the years 2008-2010, according to new data released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its annual report on food insecurity.

The report covers the three years during the heart of the recession. The rate for the three-year period prior to the recession (2005-2007) was 9.9 percent. The current rate, an increase of 30 percent since 2007, highlights the deep impact the recession has had on a vast number of households.

Read our press release about the report.

Latest CN e-News: Back to School Resources

2011-09-07T17:12:00.002-04:00

Check out our latest Child Nutrition e-News with information about the free and reduced-price school meal application, hunger-related funding opportunities, MyPlate resources, and more!

To join the Child Nutrition Network and receive future e-News, please sign-up on our website. Go to the right sidebar of our homepage.

In addition, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act makes it easier for school districts to connect youth in foster care to free school meals. Read the latest report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and check out strategies your school can start adopting.

Hunger among Older Americans Spikes Nearly 80 Percent Since 2001

2011-08-31T14:35:00.003-04:00

AARP Foundation report finds 1 in 11 Americans 50-plus at risk of hunger

Nearly 9 million Americans 50 and older face the risk of hunger, according to new research commissioned by AARP Foundation. The report, produced by James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and Craig Gundersen of the University found more than nine percent of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009—a 79 percent increase since 2001.

The report, “Food Insecurity among Older Adults,” is the first of its kind to examine this issue among people age 50 to 59—the youngest of the baby boomers. Because they are typically too young for Social Security and Medicare and too old to qualify for programs designed for families with children, this age group can be hit particularly hard in bad economic times. In 2009, 4.9 million 50- to 59-year-olds were at risk of hunger, representing a staggering 38 percent increase over 2007.

The report finds that roughly 11 percent of New yorkers age 50-59 face food insecurity.

Download the full report

Download the Policy Brief

Hurricane Irene and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

2011-08-26T17:56:00.023-04:00

A new memo has been posted to the Food Stamp Policy Alert page concerning Hurricane Irene and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits. Several attachments are also available including; an outreach flyer, the form needed to request replacement food stamp benefits, and the OTDA policy concerning replacement food stamps.

Due to the possible impact of Hurricane Irene, NYC and upstate communities may experience flooding and/or sustained power outages. Food stamp households that have lost food due to flooding or power outages may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

There are Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinators in many communities across NYS. NOEP coordinators are available to help potentially eligible individuals and families apply for food stamp benefits.

NOEP coordinators can help families and individuals who may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits by:
· Providing the form for households to request Replacement Stamps.
· Helping households complete the form, and
· Answering any questions households may have.

Find out if there is a NOEP coordinator in your community.

If you have any questions about this memo, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 112, or by e-mail Dawn.Secor@HungerSolutionsNY.org

NYS Clarifies Student Eligibility Rules

2011-08-23T18:05:00.009-04:00

There are special rules that limit eligibility for students looking to participate in the Food Stamp Program (FSP). In order to participate in the FSP a student must meet one or more of the allowable eligibility exemptions.

OTDA has released 11-INF-06 to clarify the following eligibility rules pertaining to students:
a) Students receiving Unemployment Benefits (UIB)
b) Students participating in correspondence school or online courses; and
c) Exclusion of work study income for all students.

Hunger Solutions New York has developed a memo on these clarifications.

USDA Rejects Mayor Bloomberg's Plan to Ban Use of Food Stamps to Buy Soda

2011-08-23T16:30:00.004-04:00

Federal officials on Friday rejected Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to bar New York City’s food stamp users from buying soda and other sugary drinks with them.

While the proposal's goal is to have an impact on obesity rates, the USDA cites that the ban would be to large and complex to implement. Anti-hunger advocates argue that micromanaging the lives of poor people is not the answer and that the proposal was based on the false assumption that poor people are less capable of making healthy food choices.

For more information about hunger and obesity visit resources at the Food Research and Action Center.

Now Available: Afterschool Meals Guide

2011-08-23T10:54:00.004-04:00

Are you an afterschool program in a high-need area looking to serve a snack and/supper to students?

Check out the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)'s new Afterschool Meals Guide to help you learn how to get started.

Or, for more information about the "At-Risk Afterschool Snack and Supper Program" in NYS, visit our website or check out this brochure from the NYS Department of Health.

4 Anti-Hunger-Related Funding Opps

2011-08-23T10:22:00.004-04:00

From the Sodexho Foundation:
25 Sodexo Youth Grants of $500 each to support youth-led service projects in the United States that address the issue of childhood hunger during National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 13-20, 2011). We’re looking for projects that engage your peers, friends, families, neighbors, Sodexo employees, and other community members in creative, youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in your community.

Deadline September 16.

From the Whole Kids Foundation:
To be eligible for a garden grant, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or nonprofit K-12 school that is developing or currently maintaining a school garden project that will help children engage with fresh fruits and vegetables. Garden projects may be at any stage of development; planning, construction or operation. For cases in which an applicant facilitates garden projects in more than one school, multiple garden grants may be requested under a single application. In occasional cases, additional funds may be awarded for special projects.

Deadline December 31.

From Action for Healthy Kids, Share Your Breakfast!
The awards will range from $750-$1,000, with significant in-kind contributions from Action for Healthy Kids in the form of people, programs, and policy expertise. We’ll also provide schools with management, expertise and support to develop alternative breakfast programs or start universal breakfast programs.

Deadline September 30 with an informational webinar on September 21.

From the AARP Foundation:
AARP Foundation is seeking to fund the development or scaling of innovative, sustainable solutions to hunger that incorporate collaboration and community development and have the potential for making a significant impact on community food security and sustainable food systems for those 50 and older.

Deadline September 15.

8/25 Webinar: Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application

2011-08-16T18:03:00.006-04:00

Hunger Solutions New York will be hosting a webinar all about the free and reduced-price school meal application.

Date: Thursday, August 25
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm

School meals provide essential fuel for learning and contribute to student success. During this webinar, learn how you can help ensure all eligible low-income children are qualified for free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch.

Learn more here or register online now.

1 in 4 American Households with Children Report Not Being Able to Afford Enough Food

2011-08-11T09:35:00.004-04:00

Today the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) released its latest food hardship report. According to the report "Food Hardship in America 2010: Households with and without Children" New York State rank 29th in the nation for food hardship with 14.6% of households having trouble affording enough food while 23.3% of household with children report the same trouble.

Of note, the last report from March of this year rated New York's 16th Congressional District with the highest food hardship rate in the country at nearly 33%. That rate has dropped to 27%, bringing the district to the 4th ranking position.

Nationwide, nearly 1 in 4 households with children report having trouble affording enough food. You can read FRAC's statement here.

In Defense of SNAP

2011-07-29T14:54:00.012-04:00

Why Targeting Food Programs for Low-Income Americans is the Wrong Answer

From the Center For American Progress
By Sarah Sherman July 28, 2011

Many of the programs that provide vital services to low-income Americans are at risk during this current climate of budget battles and debt limit deadlocks. In particular, the nutrition programs administered by the Department of Agriculture are under increased scrutiny as Congress debates debt deals and holds hearings in preparation for next year’s Farm Bill reauthorization. At the center of these discussions and attacks is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

Nearly one in seven Americans, more than half of whom are children or seniors, receive help from SNAP in stretching their food budgets to last through the end of the month. Recent increases in program enrollment reflect both the growing need among American households and the success of outreach efforts to families who are eligible to receive these benefits.

“One of the most important aspects of SNAP is that it is structured to respond quickly to the needs of the hardest-hit households,” the administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service testified at last week’s House hearing. “Benefits flow into communities as economic conditions worsen, providing an economic boost even as they meet the nutrition needs of low-income people.”

Increased poverty and high unemployment rates in the wake of the Great Recession have certainly played a part in this rising need. At a time when so many families are struggling, it is troubling that the largest program to help low-income families buy nutritious food is being characterized as “a magnet for abuses and absurdities” that “could easily permit Trust Fund Babies driving Rolls Royces to get free food courtesy of Uncle Sam.”

Critics who claim that SNAP is wasteful are misguided for two reasons. First, SNAP has greatly improved program efficiency while maintaining record-low rates of error and fraud. And second, those who are truly worried about trimming the budget would do well to concentrate on the much greater waste found in other areas of spending, such as overpayments in defense contracts.Any instance of fraud or abuse of government funds is unacceptable and should be addressed, and the USDA has been improving its efforts to do just that. Despite this progress, The Wall Street Journal recently attacked SNAP, using infrequent cases of fraud to dismiss the entire program as problematic.

The USDA set the record straight in their “fact vs. fiction” blog post about SNAP, arguing that program fraud is at an all-time low of 1 percent. Stores and individuals involved in SNAP trafficking—selling benefits or using them to pay for nonfood items—face increased punishments under the most recent Farm Bill.

more...

USDA Launches Contest: SFSP Success Stories

2011-07-21T12:29:00.002-04:00

From the USDA:

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011 - USDA's Food and Nutrition Service today launched a photo contest to look for and promote best practices in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The competition, Food, Fun and Sun! The Summer Food Service Program Story and Photo Contest, is open to sponsors and sites participating in the SFSP, which provides free, healthy meals to children in low-income areas during the summer.

Food, Fun and Sun! will highlight successful programs in four categories to share with SFSP sponsors and sites across the country. Contest winners will be recognized nationally.

Photo contest categories include:

Volunteers: Examples of programs that use volunteers to support their work.
Older Children: Examples of successful programs that address hunger among older kids, aged 12-18.
Rural: Examples of successful programs in rural areas.
Creative: Examples of the best creative programs that "think outside the box" to serve kids and teens.

Learn more from the USDA press release

Check out the contest website

U.S. Needs Food Stamps As Much As Ever

2011-07-18T09:37:00.002-04:00

Hunger Solutions New York executive director Linda Bopp wrote a featured opinion piece in the Albany Times Union this Sunday. The piece highlights key concerns over Congressional proposals to significantly alter the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Food Stamp Program and the proposals' possible impact on hungry New Yorkers.

If you are looking for key arguments in defense of the Food Stamp Program, here is where to find them. For more information regarding the Congressional Proposal and what you can do about it, visit the Food Research and Action Center.

New Video Urges Government Not to Cut Solutions That Help Millions of Seniors

2011-07-15T12:12:00.006-04:00

Current Programs Offer a Vital Lifeline to Health and Independence for Older Adults in Need
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire

As Congress debates dramatic cuts to senior programs— including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, food stamps, Home Delivered Meals and congregate meals — a new video by the One Away campaign for elder economic security urges policymakers to protect and strengthen current programs that provide real solutions for older adults who are struggling financially.

More than 13 million older adults live in or on the edge of poverty, often on less than $22,000 each year. In New York, a million older adults are income eligible for nutrition assistance programs. These seniors have to decide every day whether to pay for food, medicine, or a place to live. They live one bad break, one accident, or one layoff away from economic disaster.

The new video is part of One Away, an advocacy campaign that allows vulnerable and disadvantaged seniors tell their stories of struggle in their own words. The latest video highlights programs that are a lifeline for millions of older adults, including food and nutrition programs – Right now, 5 million seniors are hungry in the United States. Yet proposals in Congress would reduce funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) by $127 billion, and could cut funding for Older Americans Act meals programs, including Meals on Wheels and congregate meals.

In addition to the main video, there are 10 other One Away videos spotlighting older adults across the country who have had to stop taking their medicine, eat less, or live in their car due to financial setbacks. Click on the "Watch Videos" tab to see them all. Visitors also can share their own stories of struggle, send an email to Congress, and discuss solutions to help seniors in need.

A national poll, commissioned by NCOA, indicated that almost two-thirds (63%) of adults aged 18+ said they or an older adult they know is struggling to make ends meet in today's economy. A majority (62%) also knows that one out of three older adults relies on Social Security for over 90% of their income. Find out more at www.oneaway.org/Press.

Hunger Solutions New York has a variety of outreach materials for your use among older adults in your community.

Nutrition assistance feeds families, economy

2011-07-14T17:28:00.012-04:00

Program working to weed out bad apples

By Kevin Concannon
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture

First published in the Liberty Tribune Opinion Page
July, 2011 St. Joseph MO

As someone with decades of experience working in and around anti-poverty programs, I have witnessed firsthand the important role that government can play in helping families that are literally living from paycheck to paycheck. I have seen how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, helps millions of responsible, hardworking Americans put food on the table for their families.

But that is not all SNAP does. It helps support jobs and provides a boost to the economy. And SNAP has a good story to tell when it comes to using taxpayer funds responsibly and wisely, one that unfortunately does not get told enough.

That is why it is so disappointing when sporadic abuses of the program by a select few are used as a political football in the media. Given most media coverage in recent weeks, you would think that lottery winners and criminals are the only Americans receiving SNAP benefits. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, abuses are the exception, not the norm. They overshadow the record achievements in SNAP for payment accuracy and program integrity, and do a disservice to the overwhelming majority that truly need the program and are playing by the rules.

For starters, people should understand that the record 44 million of our fellow Americans — more than half of whom are children, elderly and the disabled — participating in SNAP is due primarily to the fact that we are still recovering from the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. We know it is right, and it is in the interest of all of us, to help them until they can get back on their feet.

SNAP benefits also provide an economic stimulus that strengthens communities. Research shows that every $5 in new SNAP benefits generates as much as $9 in economic activity. SNAP benefits move quickly into local economies, supporting and creating jobs for the Americans who grow, process, pack, ship, shelve and sell us food.

At the same time, USDA works very hard, in partnership with the state agencies that operate the program, to be a responsible steward of trusted taxpayer resources. Rooting out waste, fraud and abuse is a top priority for this administration. We do not tolerate fraud in SNAP at USDA, and prosecute those who attempt to game the system.

Due to increased oversight and improvements to program management by USDA, the prevalence of selling SNAP benefits for cash — a fraudulent activity known as “trafficking” — has fallen significantly over the last two decades to roughly 1 cent on the dollar today. Additionally, payment accuracy in SNAP is at an all-time high — over the last decade participation among eligibles has gone from 57 percent to 66 percent, while payment errors have gone from 8.91 percent to 3.81 percent. Simply put, participation is up, and errors are down — hallmarks of an efficient and effective program.

While these are positive trends, any trafficking or error is too much, and USDA continues to be aggressive in our efforts to improve integrity in SNAP. We use state-of-the-art technology to help target criminals. We receive ongoing risk assessments, using data down to the zip code level, of all stores that accept SNAP benefits based on their likelihood of committing program violations.

But we are not content to stop there. We are currently redesigning our fraud detection system with newer, more advanced data mining technology and analytical tools available in the private sector. These efforts will make us even better at getting rid of those who break the law and abuse the program.

Beyond pursuing fraud, USDA is also deeply committed to ensuring that benefits are targeted to those Americans who need them the most. That is why we have proactively urged states to use their current authority to change their state policies so that millionaires — or those receiving substantial windfalls — do not receive SNAP benefits.

These are just a few of the things we are doing at USDA every day to perform the job that America’s taxpayers have entrusted to us. And we are committed to doing even more. As our nation continues down its path of economic recovery we know that our work is cut out for us. But our sense of dignity and morality tells us that we must support hard-working Americans who are still struggling to meet their most basic nutritional needs. SNAP is an integral part of those efforts, which will stimulate the economy and help us grow a stronger nation for all Americans.

Food Stamp Program/SNAP FACTS from USDA

2011-07-11T13:13:00.015-04:00

FACT vs. FICTION: USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Below is a reprint of a June 24th posting to USDA’s Blog by Aaron Lavallee of USDA’s Office of Communications.

Over the last 15 years, the USDA has made great strides in our efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in its programs. Payment accuracy has never been higher: in FY 2010, 96.19 percent of all benefits were issued correctly, the fourth consecutive year the program has achieved a historically high rate. Without this improvement, the cost of improper payments would have been $356 million higher. Trafficking in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has also declined, from four percent of benefits to its current level of one percent. While these are positive trends, any trafficking or error is too much, and we will continue to be aggressive in efforts to improve integrity and maintain public confidence that benefits are being used responsibly. But we know that misinformation and confusion about SNAP exists and so we have highlighted some of the most common misconceptions and presented the facts below.

Most SNAP benefits are going to people who could be working.
This is FICTION.

Most SNAP recipients were children or elderly. Nearly half (48 percent) were children and another 8 percent were age 60 or older. Working-age women represented 28 percent of the caseload, while working-age men represented 16 percent.

People on SNAP benefits are not employed.
This is FICTION.

Many SNAP recipients are currently employed but they still need some assistance so that they can put nutritious food on the table for their families. More than 29 percent of SNAP households had earnings in 2009, and 40 percent of all SNAP participants lived in a household with earnings. For these households, earnings were the primary source of income.

The majority of SNAP households do not receive cash welfare benefits.
This is FACT.

Less than 10 percent of all SNAP households received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and another 5 percent received State General Assistance (GA) benefits. About 24 percent of SNAP households received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and over 22 percent received Social Security.

Most SNAP recipients are also on cash welfare and that trend is getting worse.
This is FICTION.

The primary source of income among SNAP participants shifted from welfare to work. In 1989, 42 percent of all SNAP households received cash welfare benefits and only 20 percent had earnings. In 2009, less than 10 percent received cash welfare, while 29 percent had earnings.

The SNAP program is full of errors and people are getting more benefits than they qualify for.
This is FICTION.

USDA and state partners are working diligently to improve payment accuracy and program integrity in SNAP. This year we announced that SNAP achieved the highest accuracy rate in history of the program. The FY 2010 national payment error rate of 3.81 percent represents the lowest rate in the history of the program and includes both overpayments and underpayments. Payment accuracy is providing the correct amount of SNAP benefits to eligible households and making sure that no one gets too little or too much in benefits—a shared goal of USDA and partner states.

Source and for more info here.

SNAP is full of fraud and trafficking is rampant.
This is FICTION.

Due to increased oversight and improvements to program management by USDA, the trafficking rate has fallen significantly over the last two decades, from about 4 cents on the dollar in 1993 to about 1 cent in 2006-08.

Source & for more info here.

more facts...

Focus on Seniors, Not Swindlers

2011-07-08T10:03:00.009-04:00

Hunger impacts millions of people. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 New Yorkers struggle to feed themselves or their family.

In the Wall Street Journal, opinion writer James Bovard recently suggested there’s rampant fraud and abuse in the Food Stamp Program (federally named SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The National Council on Aging replied to Bovard’s accusations by pointing to the real problem: people, especially seniors, who need the benefit are not getting it.

The Food Stamp Program is our nation’s first line of defense against hunger; stretching the monthly food budgets of all who meet program guidelines. Participants use an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to buy food from local stores, bodegas and farmers’ markets.

Often, vulnerable New Yorkers are unaware of, or hesitant to apply for, nutrition assistance programs which can help them through tough times. Many others need help to successfully complete applications. This spring, Hunger Solutions New York raised awareness of this issue along with the "Tea and Toast" syndrome among vulnerable older adults.

In New York, about half of the million older adults who are income eligible for monthly food stamp benefits are enrolled. Hunger Solutions New York has a variety of outreach materials for your use among older adults in your community.

Hunger Solutions New York also manages the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). This unique model offers free and confidential services to connect hungry New Yorkers with nutrition assistance programs. NOEP is available in many counties across the state and throughout the boroughs of New York City.

NOEP’s primary focus is increasing participation in the Food Stamp Program. NOEP’s nationally recognized model is one of the largest food stamp outreach programs in the nation. Through community-based work, tens of thousands of new households each year apply for, and receive, benefits. Hunger Solutions New York trains NOEP outreach workers in the Food Stamp Program guidelines to provide confidential and accurate pre-screenings and help individuals and households through the application process.

NOEP outreach workers:
• Promote the Food Stamp Program across the state;
• Help applicants gather and copy the necessary documents;
• Offer translation services, home visits, in-person or over-the-phone assistance for applicants who need individualized help;
• Work closely with local government offices to ensure that each application is processed correctly;
• Identify and remedy barriers to Food Stamp Program participation;
• Refer households to other nutrition assistance programs and community resources; and
• Collaborate with an array of local service providers.

Connect with your local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program: www.FoodHelpNY.org.

Census data reports that of New York State's 3.6 million older adults, over a million of them were were born outside of the United States. Written language barriers may prevent many older New Yorkers from applying for benefits. Click here to find NY's food stamp applications in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Haitian/Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.

Senior Hunger and the Older Americans Act

2011-07-07T14:21:00.005-04:00

Older Americans Act nutrition services programs have been one of the core elements of our national strategy for reducing food insecurity among older Americans for nearly 40 years.

Watch the recorded Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging's Hearing telecast from June 21, 2011.

Testimony includes witnesses from the Administration on Aging, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, an Area Agency on Aging, The Commonwealth Fund, and the Government and Accountability Office.

Congregate Meals are served up to five days a week to older adults (and their spouses of any age) at more than 1,000 sites across New York State, including senior centers or clubs, senior housing complexes, and town halls. A person’s income is not considered.

Home Delivered Meals are nutritious meals delivered to a person’s home one to two times daily, five or more times a week. There are no income guidelines; the target population is nutritionally at-risk adults who may be disabled, living alone, have very low-income and/or are over 75 years of age.

Connect with resources and tools in our Senior Nutrition Center to help older adults in your community.

Calls Needed to Protect Safety Net Programs -- Including SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition

2011-06-28T14:58:00.013-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center:

New York Advocates Must Weigh-in with Senator Charles Schumer AND the White House to Protect Safety Net Programs -- Including SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition –as Discussions Heat Up on Raising the Debt Ceiling/Reducing the Deficit

Background:
As a key player in the ongoing budget negotiations, anti-hunger advocates must contact Senator Schumer to urge him to protect SNAP/Food Stamps, Child Nutrition and other safety net programs during the debt ceiling negotiations. Decisions are happening now!

As you know, President Obama, Vice President Biden and a bi-partisan group of Congressional leaders, including Senator Schumer, are negotiating a debt-ceiling/deficit reduction plan and hope to reach an agreement in the coming weeks. At the top of the agenda is securing $4 trillion in savings from program cuts over the next 10 or 12 years. Whether or not revenues will be part of the final plan is also in play. Anti-hunger advocates are demanding that negotiations follow a key principle included in the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform’s plan (Bowles-Simpson): protect programs for low-income families and individuals, like SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition, and make sure that the deficit reduction is achieved in a way that does not increase poverty.

Actions Needed:
1. Call Senator Schumer at (202) 224-6542 or call toll-free: 1-888-907-1485 which will connect you to the Capitol Switchboard.

2. Contact the White House (President Obama and Vice President Biden). E-mail or call toll-free: 1-888-245-0215.

Message: Any deficit reduction plan must protect programs for low-income families and individuals -- such as the nutrition programs like SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition -- and must also include new revenues. The plan should reduce poverty and help the disadvantaged, even as it attempts to shrink the deficit. Low-income assistance programs, like SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition, must be exempt from any caps and automatic across-the-board cuts which could be triggered when budget targets or fiscal restraint rules are missed or violated.

Please take these actions immediately and to share this alert widely among your network and contacts in order to demonstrate support for responsible long-term deficit reduction through a combination of revenue increases and spending cuts that do not harm the poor and vulnerable.

School Nutrition Foundation: Breakfast in the Classroom Resources + Funding Alert

2011-06-27T11:53:00.002-04:00

The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) with support from the Walmart Foundation and Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom released a NEW resource for schools all about starting breakfast in the classroom.

Click here to link to the Resource Center.

Also on the SNF website, a funding announcement for schools to increase breakfast participation. Sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, eligible applicants are schools that operate the School Breakfast Program and are enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 for the 11-12 SY. Deadline is July 31, 2011.

Click here to learn more about the grant.

House Passes Harmful Cuts in FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations

2011-06-17T13:52:00.003-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

On June 16, the House passed its FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations spending bill, H.R. 2112, by a vote of 217 to 203, concluding three days of unusually contentious debate triggered by the radical and destructive provisions in the bill.

The bill’s overall allocation for FY2012 ($17.250 billion) is $5 billion (23%) below the President’s FY2012 request and approximately $3 billion (14%) below FY2011 levels.

The bill includes cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

Learn more on the FRAC website

Stop the Slashing: A Guide for the Budget Perplexed

2011-06-14T14:59:00.012-04:00

The Nutrition Consortium, along with 500 plus human service providers across the nation, recently participated in a webinar sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) focusing on federal budget proposals that slash programs for low-income families.

CHN is asking community organizations to act as "real world reporters," sharing the realistic dangers of these budget proposals and translating them into understandable human terms.

Become a "real world reporter". Below find the webinar, handouts, a guide and other tools and resources for the budget perplexed.

Resources:
Stop the Slashing Webinar (6/7/11):
Overview Page
Audio presentation
Handouts

Additional Resources:
Budget Advocacy Guide

Children's Health Watch: Federal Programs that Protect Young Children’s Health

2011-06-14T09:20:00.002-04:00

In their latest policy action brief, Children's Health Watch states that certain federal programs are essential for the health of very young children. Further, the brief argues that budgetary changes to these programs will undermine the health of these children.

Programs mentioned include:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
WIC
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Affordable housing

Read the June 2011 Children's Health Watch policy action brief on their website.

AARP releases report with Nutrition Consortium: Older Adult Food Insecurity: Framing the Issue in New York State

2011-06-10T16:41:00.003-04:00

AARP, the Nutrition Consortium of New York State, and other Anti-Hunger groups released a report outlining state policy changes that need to occur to improve access to food stamps and other food assistance and nutrition programs for older adults in New York State. The AARP Foundation report, "Older Adult Food Insecurity: Framing the Issue in New York State," focuses on recommendations to remove barriers to applying for benefits as well as remove the stigma associated with food stamp enrollment.

The Nutrition Consortium spoke at the press conference releasing the report. Click here to read our statement.

View the AARP press release.

Read the report.

Food Research and Action Center: Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation, 2011 Report

2011-06-10T13:54:00.006-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

"Participation in the Summer Nutrition Programs continued to erode in summer 2010 as recession-driven cuts in summer schools and youth programs led to fewer sites that could offer summer meals. Since July 2008, total participation nationwide in the Summer Nutrition Programs has dropped by 90,000 children, according to Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation, an analysis by the Food Research and Action Center."

According to FRAC, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participation has decreased in NYS. Approximately 255, 000 children ate summer lunch during 2010, as compared to approximately 262,000 during 2009; a decrease of almost 3%.

Read the report and learn more about how NYS compares to other states in regard to the SFSP.

Help Put NYS and the Food Stamp Program on the Map

2011-06-09T14:09:00.018-04:00

From the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN):

The Half in Ten campaign and the Coalition on Human Needs are pleased to announce the release of the Road to Shared Prosperity, an interactive map displaying a collection of personal stories about programs building the American Dream. At a time when human-needs programs like Medicaid, food stamps/SNAP, and numerous others are facing the threat of extreme budget cuts, it is critical to show how such programs make a difference in the lives of real families, communities, and the economy. Designed to be a rich resource for the public, all stories contained in the map are paired with data on a state’s social and economic situation to show that this is about more than one person’s struggle or one family’s encounter with the safety net, but rather systemic issues that federal programs are successfully addressing.

Visit our resources for advocates page to learn best practices for leveraging the map’s contents for advocacy. We urge you to include stories and data from the Road to Shared Prosperity into your correspondence with members of Congress, in opinion editorials, and in social media campaigns.

Half in Ten and the Coalition on Human Needs are seeking additional stories to add to the map, which will be updated regularly. We welcome short video clips and written stories from service providers, beneficiaries, community leaders, business owners, and others who can speak to the value of federal programs that build prosperity and increase opportunity for all Americans. If you’d like to add your story to the Road to Shared Prosperity, click here.

We hope that this map will prove to be a useful resource in your advocacy around the budget debate. With your help we can pave the road to shared prosperity for all Americans.

Download a one-page summary

View the Road to Shared Prosperity

Submit your story to the Road to Shared Prosperity

Nominations Open: Hunger Champion and Golden Grocer

2011-06-09T11:48:00.003-04:00

The USDA is now accepting nominations for the Hunger Champion and Golden Grocer Awards.

The Hunger Champion Award honors local county assistance offices that provide exemplary service in assisting eligible clients to obtain benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or the Food Stamp Program in NYS).

The Golden Grocer Award is given to retailers that provide excellence in customer service, outreach, and/or nutrition education to food stamp recipients and low-income customers.

Learn more about the Hunger Champions Award on the USDA website. The deadline to submit a nomination is July 1, 2011.

Learn more about the Golden Grocer Award on the USDA website. Nominations are accepted all year with no deadline.

June 6-10: National Summer Food Service Program Week

2011-06-07T14:38:00.003-04:00

From the USDA:
We are excited to announce the first ever National Summer Food Service Program Week! Today marks day one of a week-long celebration to raise awareness and make sure that no child goes hungry this summer. You may have heard of National School Lunch and School Breakfast Weeks and wondered why we didn’t have a week dedicated to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Well, we wondered the same thing and we’re excited to start a new tradition this year!

Learn more on the USDA's blog and website.

Flooding and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

2011-05-16T18:02:00.020-04:00

Due to the recent rain storms many upstate areas are experiencing flooding. Food stamp households that have lost food due to flooding may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits. If your county was affected by flooding please help get the word out about Replacement Food Stamps.

We have posted a new memo describing the criteria and process for current food stamp households, who have experienced food spoilage due to a “household misfortune”, to obtain replacement food stamp benefits.

This memo also includes:

Replacement Food Stamp Benefits Flyer

OTDA Form 2291 Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits

Outreach Materials for Schools and Communities to Promote Summer Meals for Kids

2011-05-13T15:15:00.002-04:00

The 2011 summer food season is starting soon! Please help remind families that free nutrition may be available nearby for their children when school is out.

The toolkit is available online and includes the following (plus other template materials):

Memo to school food authorities (SFAs) about Child Nutrition Reauthorization and SFSP outreach
Suggestions for SFAs to meet the SFSP outreach requirement
USDA Outreach toolkit for sponsors and feeding sites

USDA Initiative: Become a Champion to End Child Hunger

2011-05-09T08:59:00.005-04:00

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack recently announced a series of new online tools and volunteer initiatives to increase the number of individuals, organizations, and governments actively working to end hunger across the country.

Online resources include:

Stakeholder Guide to Ending Childhood Hunger: A guide to assist individuals and organizations in choosing value-added activities and finding resources to help end childhood hunger;
Become a Champion to End Hunger: An online commitment drive that encourages organizations and the public to select actions they will take to reduce childhood hunger;
End Hunger Volunteerism Portal (www.serve.gov/endhunger): A website developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) where organizations can post volunteer opportunities and individuals can search for volunteer opportunities in their communities.

Read the April 29 press release from the USDA.

Visit the USDA online tools and resources.

Nutrition Consortium Submits Comments to USDA Regarding Proposed School Nutrition Standards

2011-05-02T12:04:00.005-04:00

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS submitted comments to the USDA regarding the proposed rule on school meal nutrition standards. Our comments are available online.

To learn more about the proposed nutrition updates, please visit the USDA.
For a summary, please visit the Food Research and Action Center.

The USDA is targeted to release a Final Rule on this issue during winter 2012. School districts are expected to implement nutritional updates by school year 2012-2013.

Buffalo Public Schools: Breakfast in the Classroom

2011-05-02T11:09:00.004-04:00

This past September, the Buffalo School District launched breakfast in the classroom in 28 elementary schools. A total of 21,000 students are now eating school breakfast daily.

Check out this news article about breakfast in the classroom.

From the WKBW article:

Principal Denise Luka said the program has made an impact on her students. "It creates a family environment and I truly believe breaking bread together promotes family environment and family atmosphere exactly what we are trying to promote here at Charles R. Drew School," Luka said.

Action Needed: Sign and Share Organizational Letter Opposing Structural Changes and Budget Cuts to SNAP

2011-04-28T16:42:00.003-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

ACTION NEEDED: Sign and Share the National, State and Community-based Organizational Letter Opposing Structural Changes and Budget Cuts to SNAP

FRAC and their partners in NAHO (National Anti-Hunger Organizations) have written a sign-on letter strongly opposing structural changes (e.g., a block grant) and budget cuts to SNAP. With your help, they hope to get thousands of national, state and local groups to sign on to this letter.

Please sign your organization onto this letter and send it to other organizations on your e-mail list.

Congressional leaders need to hear a strong message from groups around the country that Congress should protect SNAP from budget cuts and structural changes that would weaken its proven ability to help the poorest and hungriest people in the country.

Click here to read and sign the letter.

Impact of Proposed Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Federal Food Stamp Program

2011-04-25T15:20:00.000-04:00

If you have been uncertain proposed changes to the federal budget the House of Representatives and its impact on Americans, there is a great explanation posted to the National Public Radio web site.

The basics of the proposal greatly alters the commitment of the federal government to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which funds the Food Stamp Program in New York State. Currently, the federal government funds the food stamp program based entirely on the number of Americans who qualify for and use the program. Under the proposal, SNAP would become a block grant and states would receive a set amount of money based on a formula. This would have an impact of either lowering benefits to 88 percent of their current level for the number of recipients currently enrolled or decreasing enrollment by 8 million Americans. Either way, the impact is huge.

To read the full article, click here.

New Report: Shine with School Breakfast, SY 2009-2010

2011-04-20T12:07:00.005-04:00

Report by anti-hunger organization shows growth in School Breakfast Program, says State is still missing out on millions in federal dollars, highlights ways to increase participation.

Participation in the federally and state-funded School Breakfast Program grew to nearly 470,000 students served every day during the 2009-2010 school year in New York State, an increase of over 23,000 students daily from the prior school year. Despite this increase, the number of low-income students eating school breakfast still remains low. Less than 1 in 3 low-income students who qualified to eat free or reduced-price school meals actually eat school breakfast, according to “Shine with School Breakfast”, an annual analysis of the School Breakfast Program published by the Nutrition Consortium of NYS.

Click here for the report.
Click here for county-specific data from the report.

Record Number of Americans Enrolled in Food Stamp Program

2011-04-13T15:49:00.001-04:00

In a report released by Food Research and Action Council (FRAC), more than 44 million Americans were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamp Program (FSP) in January 2011. That is one in seven Americans. In addition, one in three Americans who could be eligible for this benefit is not currently enrolled.

SNAP/FSP is the most basic or support for households in need of assistance in paying for food. According to the FRAC report, nearly three million people are enrolled in the FSP in New York State. There was a ten percent increase in participation since January of 2010.

A recent CNN Money article highlights increased participation by Americans across all safety net programs in the face of proposed drastic changes to key federal programs like SNAP.

Treatment of Tax Refunds and Credits in the Food Stamp Program

2011-03-23T15:19:00.005-04:00

The recently passed Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 greatly simplifies and standardizes the rules for how Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, and any tax refunds are treated in determining eligibility for public benefit programs including the Food Stamp Program (FSP). This legislation will greatly help low-income families who would like to save their tax credits/refunds for the future without losing important public benefits.

OTDA has released GIS 11 TA/DC002 which outlines the impact of this legislation on FS and Temporary Assistance (TA).

Click here for the Nutrition Consortium's memo that highlights the FS policy implications of this new legislation.

Food Stamps and Tax Aid Kept Poverty Rate in Check

2011-03-22T13:35:00.005-04:00

New York Times Article By SAM ROBERTS
Published: March 20, 2011

Without a flood of food stamps and tax benefits for low-income families, about 250,000 more New Yorkers would have slipped into poverty at the height of the recession, according to calculations to be released Monday by city officials.

As it was, while the federal poverty rate for the city remained about the same from 2008 to 2009, 17.3 percent, by a measure developed by the city it rose to 19.9 percent. The city takes into account factors the federal standard does not — higher local costs of living and expenses for health care, commuting and day care, or the value of benefits like food stamps, housing allowances and tax credits that can supplement cash income.

“To a large degree, economic stimulus programs and policy initiatives aimed at bolstering family income succeeded in preventing a rise in poverty in New York City,” according to the report by the mayor’s Center for Economic Opportunity.

To read the full article

To veiw Policy Affects Poverty Report

1 in 4 Americans Worried About Having Enough Money for Food

2011-03-14T09:39:00.004-04:00

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

One in four Americans is worried about having enough money to put food on the table in the next year, according to a national hunger survey by Hart Research Associates, commissioned last month by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN). Another key finding is that many Americans are unaware of how serious hunger is in their own communities.

Other key survey findings include:

91% of Americans are committed to the principle that no one should go hungry in the U.S.
89% believe hunger impacts the physical development of infants/toddlers.
53% believe that children often eat cheap, unhealthy foods so families can pay rent.
51% believe that seniors often have to choose between paying for medical prescriptions or food.

To view the executive summary, please click here.
To view survey findings, please click here.

Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength's Teachers Report

2011-03-14T09:17:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month, Share Our Strength released its 2nd annual survey of K-8 public school teachers about child hunger.

According to the nationwide survey:

65% of teachers say there are children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry because they are not getting enough to eat at home.
Nearly two thirds (65%) of teachers say that most or a lot of their students rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition.
Nearly(96%) of teachers believe that breakfast is extremely or very important to student academic achievement.

Read the full report (here) or visit the Share Our Strength website to find out more about how you can help close the school breakfast gap (here).

4 New York Groups Receive Hunger-Free Communities Grants

2011-02-28T11:07:00.005-05:00

Last week, the USDA announced Hunger-Free Communities grant awards to four groups in New York State:

The United Way of NYC,
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County,
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County, and
Poughkeepsie Farm Project

Funded projects will improve access to nutritious food through research, planning, and implementation of hunger relief activities through community partnerships and collaborations.

The USDA awarded 14 grants to groups in eight states.

For more information, please visit the USDA's website (here).

April 1 Standard Utility Allowance Decrease

2011-02-28T10:43:00.030-05:00

The Standard Utility Allowances (SUA) will decrease on April 1, 2011. The SUA, along with rent or mortgage payments and certain other shelter related deductions are subtracted from a food stamp household’s income to determine the food stamp benefit amount for which the household is eligible. For the first time, the SUA adjustment scheduled to go into effect on April 1 of this year will result in a reduction in food stamp benefits for many households, particularly those with elderly or disabled members.

The following SUA amounts go into effect beginning April 1, 2011:

Standard Utility Allowances for NYS (effective April 1, 2011)

New York City

Level 1 - $718

Level 2 - $284

Level 3 - $33 unchanged

Nassau & Suffolk

Level 1 -$669

Level 2 - $263

Level 3 - $33 unchanged

Rest of State

Level 1 - $593

Level 2 - $240

Level 3 - $33 unchanged

This memo provides more information on how this decrease will effect FS benefits and includes the following attachments:

Food Stamp Budget Worksheet for April 1
NYSNIP Benefit Matrix by Shelter Type
An upstate and NYC GIS 11 TA/DC004

To view the memo and attachements click here.

If you have any questions about this memo, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 12, or by e-mailing Dawn.Secor@nutritionconsortium.org

Federal Continuing Resolution Bill Threatens Anti-Poverty Programs

2011-02-23T16:12:00.004-05:00

This week, the House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) bill to fund the federal government for the rest of the FY 2011 (through September 20, 2011). The bill proposes to cut spending by more than $65 billion in the next seven months.

Proposed cuts could affect:

WIC,
Commodity Supplemental Food Program,
Congressional Hunger Center,
Hunger Free Communities Grants,
Home Energy Assistance Program
Head Start, and
Community Services Block Grant.

Read the press release from the House Committee on Appropriations (here) and check out a chart of program cuts (here).

For additional analysis, visit the Food Research and Action Center (here).

Join a national effort led by the Coalition on Human Needs to protect programs and services for low-income families (here).

President's 2012 Budget Proposes Restoration to SNAP/FS Cuts

2011-02-17T12:40:00.007-05:00

Last week, President Obama's released his proposed 2012 FY budget.

The President's proposed budget provides support for the federal nutrition programs and anti-hunger efforts, including:

Restoration of cuts to SNAP/food stamps made last December to partially finance Child Nutrition Reauthorization,
Suspension of a restriction that caps food stamp benefits to certain adults trying to meet program work requirements
Support for WIC,
New funding for school breakfast expansion grants,
Restoration of cuts to emergency food,
Support for state and local anti-hunger efforts,
Funds for the Congressional Hunger Center, and
Support for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, and effort to combat food deserts.

When passed/adopted, the 2012 budget will go into effect on October 1, 2011.

To learn more about funding for the Department of Agriculture, please visit the White House (here) and/or the Food Research and Action Center (here).

Hunger Solutions New York Blog

Resource Limit Increase for Newly Applying Families That Include a Senior/Disabled Member

Webinar: New Healthier School Meal Standards: What You Need to Know

New Standards for School Meals Released

Food stamps a necessary lifeline

Polling Data Find Broad Support for SNAP Among Voters

Hunger Solutions New York Applauds Governor Cuomo for Food Stamp Program Initiative in State Budget Proposal

Job Opportunity at Hunger Solutions New York

Governor Cuomo Promises to Expand Food Stamp Outreach, End Child Hunger in New York State

New York Times Joins Chorus Calling for End to Finger Imaging for Food Stamp Benefits

This week, The New York Times published an excellent editorial denouncing New York City's policy of requiring finger imaging of food stamp applicants.

Stigmatizing Food StampsPublished: January 1, 2012

USDA: Online WIC Pre-screening Tool

AASA's New Webpage About 4 School Districts + Breakfast in the Classroom

Superintendent Leadership to Enhance and Expand the School Breakfast Program in Urban Districts

Impact of COLA Increase for Food Stamp Recipients with Social Security Income

Center for American Progress Study: Hunger is Suffering We All Pay For

Preventing Hunger and Protecting Taxpayers: Our Renewed Efforts to Combat SNAP Fraud

New Report from NYC Coalition Against Hunger: Child Hunger On the Rise

FRAC: Spending on Food by Tens of Millions of Americans Drops to Unhealthy Level

Opinion Piece: Food for thought

Upcoming Webinars: It's Not Too Early to Think About Summer Food

New Grant Aims to Convince More Syracuse Students to Eat Breakfast at School

Federal Budget Update, FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations

NY Times: Line Grows Long for Free Meals at U.S. Schools

Rise in Veterans and Military Families Seeking Food Assistance

2011 Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

USDA Warning about Phony SNAP Application Assistance

USDA: At-Risk Afterschool Meal Handbook

Determining Foods Covered Under Nutrition Assistance Programs is Not Always a SNAP

October Snow Storm, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

New: Factsheets About Children in Foster Care, Temporary Housing and Free School Meals

FRAC: 11/3 Webinar About Afterschool Snack and Supper Program

Action for For Healthy Kids Webinar: 10/27 School Breakfast Basics

Improving School Meal Standards: No Time to Go Backward

Summary of SFSP Participation in NYS, Summer 2010

Brentwood UFSD, Syracuse City SD Receive School Breakfast Grants

USDA's Ending Childhood Hunger Video Contest

The Cost of Hunger in New York State

More Families Eligible for the Food Stamp Program on October 1

Replacement Food Stamp benefits extended for victims of both Irene and Lee

DISASTER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN COUNTIES HIT BY HURRICANE IRENE AND TROPICAL STORM LEE

Replacement Food Stamp Benefit Extension for Tropical Strom Lee

Census Bureau Releases New Poverty Data SNAP Lifting 3.9 Million People Above Poverty Line

Replacement Food Stamp Benefit Extension for Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene/Flooding, Homeless Children, and School Meals

New Data Show 1 in 8 New York State Households Struggling with Hunger

Latest CN e-News: Back to School Resources

Hunger among Older Americans Spikes Nearly 80 Percent Since 2001

AARP Foundation report finds 1 in 11 Americans 50-plus at risk of hunger

Hurricane Irene and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

NYS Clarifies Student Eligibility Rules

USDA Rejects Mayor Bloomberg's Plan to Ban Use of Food Stamps to Buy Soda

Now Available: Afterschool Meals Guide

4 Anti-Hunger-Related Funding Opps

8/25 Webinar: Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application

1 in 4 American Households with Children Report Not Being Able to Afford Enough Food

In Defense of SNAP

USDA Launches Contest: SFSP Success Stories

U.S. Needs Food Stamps As Much As Ever

New Video Urges Government Not to Cut Solutions That Help Millions of Seniors

Nutrition assistance feeds families, economy

Food Stamp Program/SNAP FACTS from USDA

Focus on Seniors, Not Swindlers

Senior Hunger and the Older Americans Act

Calls Needed to Protect Safety Net Programs -- Including SNAP/Food Stamps and Child Nutrition

School Nutrition Foundation: Breakfast in the Classroom Resources + Funding Alert

House Passes Harmful Cuts in FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations

Stop the Slashing: A Guide for the Budget Perplexed

Children's Health Watch: Federal Programs that Protect Young Children’s Health

AARP releases report with Nutrition Consortium: Older Adult Food Insecurity: Framing the Issue in New York State

Food Research and Action Center: Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation, 2011 Report

Help Put NYS and the Food Stamp Program on the Map

Nominations Open: Hunger Champion and Golden Grocer

June 6-10: National Summer Food Service Program Week

Flooding and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

Outreach Materials for Schools and Communities to Promote Summer Meals for Kids

USDA Initiative: Become a Champion to End Child Hunger

Nutrition Consortium Submits Comments to USDA Regarding Proposed School Nutrition Standards

Buffalo Public Schools: Breakfast in the Classroom

Stigmatizing Food Stamps
Published: January 1, 2012