Colorado is the eighth most-improved state at ensuring SNAP food assistance reaches its most vulnerable residents, according to new rankings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Anya Rose, public policy manager for Hunger Free Colorado, said the improvements are largely due to more meaningful benefit levels and cuts to red tape during the pandemic, along with strong outreach work.
She hopes Congress will take such key factors into account as it considers the Farm Bill, which includes the program formerly known as food stamps.
"We're hoping that some of these lessons, of what works for making sure that SNAP has the best impact it can, will be taken up in the Farm Bill," Rose explained. "To ensure SNAP can feed people as best it can and is accessible to people."
Hunger Free Colorado works with community partners across the state to get more people who qualify for food assistance enrolled. But after pre-pandemic SNAP work reporting requirements were reinstated, at least half a million Americans are expected to lose food assistance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. An additional 750,000 are at risk after the debt-ceiling negotiations raised the age cap for reporting requirements to 55.
The majority of SNAP participants are children and people with disabilities, and Rose pointed out most people who can work, do. She added having to fill out paperwork documenting at least 20 hours of work or training activities per week does nothing to help people find or maintain employment, it just makes the program more costly to administer.
"Taking away someone's food does not make it easier to hold down a job, or go to that job interview," Rose contended. "It just creates more red tape for people to access the basic resources that they need."
In 2017, SNAP added more than $700 million to local Colorado economies, with an overall economic impact of $1.25 billion, but the state loses more than $230 million each year in grocery sales by not having all eligible residents enrolled. Rose noted back in 2019, just 59% of Coloradans eligible for SNAP got assistance.
"With the 2021 numbers, we've jumped up to 73%," Rose acknowledged. "That is a great improvement. But there are still 27% of our lowest-income Coloradans not accessing the program, so there is still a lot of room for us to continue this growth."
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Workers in the fight against hunger in Arkansas are celebrating the passage and signing of Senate Bill 59.
The legislation makes free breakfast available to all school aged children, regardless of income, and will be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.
Sylvia Blain, CEO of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, said the bipartisan bill takes the stigma out of receiving a free breakfast.
"All children that are attending a school that participates in the USDA school meals program," Blain outlined. "That includes charters as well as many private schools."
She noted school districts will continue with the application process and invoice the U.S. Department of Agriculture for students who qualify for free and reduced meals, and the state will cover the costs for students who do not meet the criteria.
State funding will come through the newly established Food Insecurity Fund, which will include money from the general fund, grants and medical marijuana taxes. Blain said one in four children in Arkansas faces hunger and the legislation is one way to level the playing field.
"Arkansas is number one in food insecurity, and we know that there's a lot of kids out there that are not being fed three meals a day at home," Blain emphasized. "If they're able to know that they can come to school and get breakfast before school, it's hard to have anyone argue against that."
Blain added they eventually hope to offer free lunches to all students, as well.
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Antihunger advocates and relief organizations are gathering at New Mexico's State Capitol today as part of "Hunger Action Day."
Advocates will urge lawmakers to adopt a budget including $30 million over the next three years for New Mexico's five food banks.
Katy Anderson, vice president of strategy, partnerships and advocacy for Roadrunner Food Bank, said the money would help its 500 statewide partners close the meal gap.
"Many of our partners are in the basement of a church or in some kind of very small buildings and they might not have appropriate refrigeration or freezers or racks," Anderson explained. "So, some of that funding will help to support building up that infrastructure."
Every day, one in five New Mexico children face hunger or food insecurity. Anderson fears the number could rise if federal budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program come about. GOP lawmakers have proposed severe cuts to SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid and more.
For every one meal New Mexico's food banks are able to provide, SNAP provides nine, according to Anderson, who emphasized cuts to eligibility or benefits would be felt broadly.
"Roughly 22% to 23% of our entire population in New Mexico relies on SNAP benefits," Anderson reported. "The communities that are going to be the most hard hit are the rural communities."
New Mexico is one of eight states with a universal school meals policy, which provides free school meals to students regardless of income. As the Trump administration searches for budget cuts, Anderson worries government reimbursements for the program could also be slashed or eliminated.
"What is that going to mean from a federal perspective?" Anderson asked. "Because federal funds do come in to support that. If they shift that funding model, that could mean our state is left holding the bag to do this incredible program with a lot less federal funds."
In addition to Roadrunner, New Mexico's Food Depot, the Community Pantry in Gallup, Farmington's Echo and the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico in Clovis provide supplemental food to the state's 33 counties. More information is online at rrfb.org/coalition.
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Food insecurity is rising in Indiana.
A Feeding Indiana's Hungry study found 76% of surveyed households expect to need food assistance as often or more in the next year. Nearly two-thirds of those who receive monthly assistance run out of benefits within two weeks.
Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana's Hungry, said more than 70% of respondents had to choose between food and transportation, while over half had to choose between food and housing.
"The stark reality revealed by this study is really a wake-up call for all of us," Bryant emphasized. "It's unacceptable that so many Hoosiers are forced to make impossible choices between feeding your families and covering basic needs like transportation and housing."
Bryant noted many skipped meals. Some faced even tougher choices, like food or medical care.
The survey showed having a job is not always enough. Bryant pointed out more than half of surveyed households had at least one working adult. Many who were unemployed cited illness or disability. Others lost benefits because their income was just over the limit. Some missed paperwork deadlines and lost benefits.
"Even those who are accessing the federal nutrition programs, it's not enough and that's where the charitable sector continues to feel that gap," Bryant stressed. "In the climate that we're talking about right now, we need to make sure that the program is not being cut."
Feeding Indiana's Hungry is calling for action, saying food banks need donations, volunteers, and stronger policy support to keep up with demand. Bryant argued federal and state programs must do more to ensure families do not go hungry.
Disclosure: Feeding Indiana’s Hungry contributes to our fund for reporting on Hunger/Food/Nutrition. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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