Advocacy efforts address proposed SNAP cuts

By Dennis Archambault

Emergency food providers throughout the nation are bearing the weight of the halt of full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The government is required to provide emergency funding for SNAP but has chosen not to. According to Sharon Parrott, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration cannot provide November SNAP benefits during the shutdown is false. “In fact, the Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves — billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate that remain available during the shutdown — to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill… Even at this late date, the professionals at the Department of Agriculture and in states can make this happen. And, to state the obvious, benefits that are a couple of days delayed are far more help to families than going without any help at all.”

An estimated 1.4 million Michiganders are at risk of losing access to SNAP because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. This includes nearly one in four children.

The Fish & Loaves food pantry and the Michigan League for Public Policy have called on Michigan’s congressional delegation to compel the federal government to follow the law and release the funds needed to keep SNAP benefits going. Meanwhile, Michigan joined 24 other states in suing the federal government to fulfill its obligation to fund SNAP.

The Fair Food Network, which has offered Double Up Food Bucks — a nutrition incentive program born in Michigan and now replicated in nearly 30 states –  for 15 years, announced a special program to meet this potential food access crisis:

1. Expanded Access and Flexibility for Double Up Food Bucks

• No expiration on earnings. The 90-day limit has been lifted so shoppers can save and use Double Up benefits when it works best for them. Shoppers to build up their Double Up earnings before November 1 to use when the potential SNAP pause will go into effect.

• No daily earning cap. Families can now earn more than the usual $20/day while shopping for fruits and vegetables.

• Frozen fruits and veggies are now eligible. Food retailers can accept Double Up for frozen produce with no added salt, sugar, or oil.

2. A new offering: Double Up Bonus Bucks. This is a limited-time voucher of $40. It does not require matching a SNAP purchase to receive it. The voucher can be used exclusively on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables at participating Double Up locations in Michigan and will be distributed:

• Directly onto Double Up cards, or loyalty cards at participating locations, where applicable

• As printed vouchers for shoppers using tokens or coupons at participating locations

The Fair Food Network initiative will expire on Dec. 31.

Genesis Hope CDC held a town hall meeting on Oct. 24, involving presentations from Rep. Shri Thanedar, Adrian Lewis, president & CEO of Forgotten Harvest, and Kevin Frank, Senior Director of Culinary Services at Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) regarding the potential impact on hunger in Detroit.

If food is medicine, then hunger certainly is the disease – one which can be prevented.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health.