Why Conservatives Are Wrong About Food Stamps

The International Business Times published a very informative piece contrasting the facts about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with what Conservatives are saying about it. The opinion piece has a great chart showing the impact of social safety net programs on child poverty around the world.

"Those administering the program seem determined to place the largest number of people possible on welfare support," said Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, whose amendment to tighten eligibility requirements was defeated. The omnibus bill passed 64-35 with most Democrats and 16 Republicans in favor. "Is not a better goal to see how many Americans we can help achieve financial independence?"

Let's ignore the magical thinking that is the idea that government can help people achieve "financial independence" by pushing them off the food-stamp rolls. The reason for the explosive growth in food stamps isn't fraud or a sense of entitlement, as conservative pundits have claimed. It's because people don't have enough money, and given the government's job forecasts, this is not a short-term trend. As for the belief, oft-repeated by conservatives, that the government plays no positive role in the lives of Americans, or their children, that's a canard. 

Click here to read more...

Governor Cuomo Kicks Off Farmers' Market Season and Encourages New Yorkers to Take Advantage of FreshConnect Projects Across the State

New Website For New Yorkers to Find a FreshConnect Market and Learn More About Resources to Access Fresh, Healthy Farm Produce

June 27, 2012 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today officially kicked off New York State's farmers' market season, and encouraged New Yorkers to take advantage of the many projects and markets supported through the FreshConnect Program across the state. To assist New Yorkers in locating a FreshConnect market, the Governor announced the launch of http://freshconnect.ny.gov, a new website that allows New Yorkers to learn more about FreshConnect projects in their area.
  
Governor Cuomo awarded grants this spring to support creative, local solutions around the state to improve access to fresh, locally produced food by low-income or underserved communities. As a result, 34 projects at over 50 locations statewide will provide improved access to New York farm products. A wide variety of supported programs -- including subsidized CSA farm shares, increased ability to use Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at farmers markets, free transportation to markets, and new local food donation programs -- all make New York farm products more accessible to all New Yorkers. For more information on FreshConnect projects and to locate a site near you, visit http://freshconnect.ny.gov.
 
To further assist FreshConnect farmers' markets across the state, the State will be providing FreshConnect Checks, a nutrition incentive for Food Stamp/SNAP recipients to use their benefits at FreshConnect markets. The checks are $2 coupons issued for every $5 of Food Stamp/SNAP benefits used at the market for the purchase of Food Stamp/SNAP eligible foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meat. FreshConnect Checks will be made available at the beginning of July at FreshConnect farmers' markets throughout the State.

For full press release...

June 2012 Food Stamp e-News Available

Check out Hunger Solutions New York's latest electronic newsletter covering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the new name for the Food Stamp Program in NYS.

In this newest edition you will find:

• NYS Food Stamp Program gets a new name
• Updated NYSNIP resources including an article, forms, desk guide and more...
• NYS Announces Fresh Connect Program including a list of funded projects
• Senate Farm Bill Passes
• Tools to Promote EBT use at NYS Farmers Markets
• New Proposed Regulations to End Finger-Imaging for Food Stamps in NYS

Sign up for future FS e-news

Fuel Up School Breakfast Grants

From the Fuel Up to Play 60 website:

The Fuel Up Breakfast Grants program  is sponsored by General Mills Foodservice as part of a partnership effort with National Dairy Council® to help improve student access to high-quality, nutritious foods at school. This grant specifically targets breakfast, providing funds to help schools improve or expand their breakfast programs with an emphasis on alternative breakfast options that are sustainable.

Eligibility Criteria:
To be considered for the Fuel Up Breakfast Grant schools must:

1. Complete and submit an accurate online grant application.
2. Participate in the National School Breakfast Program.
3. Be enrolled in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program for the 2012-13 school year and agree to participate fully by displaying the Fuel Up to Play 60 Activation Kit materials and encouraging students to track their healthy eating and physical activity online.  (Note:  program enrollment is free of charge and schools can enroll online at www.FuelUpToPlay60.com).
4. Have support/backing from the school principal, district school nutrition director, and school nutrition manager.
5. Have school enrollment of at least 500 students.
6. Have opportunity to raise breakfast participation (current participation is < 40%).     

Schools may apply for up to $2,000 in grant funding. Application deadline July 31, 2012. 
Click here to apply today!

Why Are Republicans Waging War on Food Stamps Now?

The Atlantic
By Jordan Weissmann
Jun 21 2012, 10:18 AM ET

Hunger is high. Overpayments are low. The economy is weak, and food stamps are a strong stimulus. What exactly is the problem the GOP is trying to solve?

 Here is a fact that should disturb everyone, regardless of their politics: Today, about one out of every seven Americans receives food stamps. That's a population of 45 million people -- roughly the size of Spain -- who rely on government help to feed themselves.

There are two ways to interpret this number. On the one hand, you could take it as evidence of just how crucial the social safety net has become in the wake of the Great Recession, as families are quite literally struggling to put food on the table. On the other, you could just read it as an example of government welfare run amok. 


Guess which view is popular among conservatives these days.

read the full article...

Jordan Weissmann - Jordan Weissmann is an associate editor at The Atlantic. He has written for a number of publications, including The Washington Post and The National Law Journal.

Map the Meal Gap: Child Hunger in New York

Updated for 2010, from Feeding America:

Feeding America first published the Map the Meal Gap project in early 2011, with the generous support of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and The Nielsen Company, to learn more about the face of hunger at the local level. In August, 2011, with the support of the ConAgra Foods Foundation, child food insecurity data was added to the project. The maps below reflect 2009 and 2010 data, and will be updated every year with new data. Select a year and your state in our interactive map below and start learning more about the residents struggling with hunger in your community and the food banks that serve them. 

View the interactive map online: Children At Risk Of Hunger In Every County

Some SSI Recipients Recieve Food Stamps Automatically

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) implemented a demonstration project called the New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) late in 2003.  This project continues today with the goal of automatically enrolling all of New York State’s SSI (Supplemental Security Income) live-alone recipients into the Food Stamp Program. 

For this population, no separate food stamp application, no interview and no separate verification is needed; OTDA relies on information provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) through the State Data Exchange in order to generate a food stamp case.  NYSNIP participants use their existing Medicaid benefit card to access their food stamp benefits.  Benefit amounts are standardized, and participants can receive food stamps through NYSNIP for as long as 48 months.

Click here for  Hunger Solutions New York NYSNIP article and resources, including:

• NYSNIP Benefit Matrix (adjusted May 1, 2012),
• NYSNIP Forms (updated in November 2011) in English and Spanish,
• NYSNIP Frequently Asked Questions from OTDA in English and Spanish, 
• NYSNIP Desk Guide, 
• OTDA Policy Memo's concerning NYSNIP, and
• Contact Information for help with NYSNIP questions in your community.