Thursday, May 17, 2007
Erosion of the Food Stamp Benefit Must Stop
The food stamp benefits received by over one million Ohio families are eroding in real value with each passing year, making it harder for struggling families to afford an adequate diet, according to a report released by The Center for Community Solutions, in conjunction with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.). Advocates are calling on Congress to stop the erosion in the value of food stamps as it crafts this year’s Farm Bill, which will renew the Food Stamp Program.
“Every month we serve people here whose food stamps ran out before the end of the month,” said David Riggs, coordinator of the Newport Community Food Pantry in Newport, Ohio. “Food stamps are a crucial support for many Ohioans, but each recipient now gets only about $1.10 per meal. That’s just not enough to help families put food on the table every day.”
Congressman Tim Ryan (17th District) has taken up the challenge of living on a food stamp budget for one week. “I wasn't able to get much protein and produce was almost completely out of the question,” Ryan wrote. “I already notice a difference in my energy level. After only a day on this diet, I’m tired and hungry…” Ryan is documenting his experience on his blog.
577,000 households in Ohio cannot always afford adequate food, a condition the government calls “food insecurity.” Many of these households receive food stamps but still aren’t able to afford sufficient food because their food stamp benefits don’t stretch through the month.
Every year the value of the food stamp benefit decreases because of budget cuts Congress made in the program in 1996. The impact of the cuts is growing every year. Next year, a typical working parent with two children will lose about $350 in food stamp benefits as a result of the cuts.
In all, Ohio residents will lose $66 million in food stamp benefits next year as a result of the cuts, according to the new report, The Value of Food Stamp Benefits in Ohio - and Across the Country -Is Shrinking.
“In recent years the reductions in food stamps have placed an added burden to food pantries,” said Anne Goodman, executive director of the Cleveland Foodbank. “We don't have the resources to make up for the lost food stamp benefits resulting in increased food pantry use. It is a significant drain on pantries that were originally designed to deal with emergencies not sustained long-term provision of food."
An inadequate diet can do a great deal of harm to a child’s health and development. “Research studies have shown that an inadequate diet can affect many aspects of a child’s life, from their health to their ability to succeed at work and in school,” said Jean Therrien, RN, MS, executive director of Neighborhood Family Practice in Cleveland.
In addition to improving the health and quality of life of recipients, the report notes, food stamps boost local economies by increasing total food purchases. Thus, the steady decline in food stamp values is hurting Ohio’s economy. If food stamps continue to shrink, Ohio will lose $121.44 million in economic activity in FY2008.
By improving food stamp benefits Congress can help protect needy households in Ohio and other states from going hungry while also improving local economies. At a minimum, the report concludes, Congress should stop the problem from getting worse.
“Every month we serve people here whose food stamps ran out before the end of the month,” said David Riggs, coordinator of the Newport Community Food Pantry in Newport, Ohio. “Food stamps are a crucial support for many Ohioans, but each recipient now gets only about $1.10 per meal. That’s just not enough to help families put food on the table every day.”
Congressman Tim Ryan (17th District) has taken up the challenge of living on a food stamp budget for one week. “I wasn't able to get much protein and produce was almost completely out of the question,” Ryan wrote. “I already notice a difference in my energy level. After only a day on this diet, I’m tired and hungry…” Ryan is documenting his experience on his blog.
577,000 households in Ohio cannot always afford adequate food, a condition the government calls “food insecurity.” Many of these households receive food stamps but still aren’t able to afford sufficient food because their food stamp benefits don’t stretch through the month.
Every year the value of the food stamp benefit decreases because of budget cuts Congress made in the program in 1996. The impact of the cuts is growing every year. Next year, a typical working parent with two children will lose about $350 in food stamp benefits as a result of the cuts.
In all, Ohio residents will lose $66 million in food stamp benefits next year as a result of the cuts, according to the new report, The Value of Food Stamp Benefits in Ohio - and Across the Country -Is Shrinking.
“In recent years the reductions in food stamps have placed an added burden to food pantries,” said Anne Goodman, executive director of the Cleveland Foodbank. “We don't have the resources to make up for the lost food stamp benefits resulting in increased food pantry use. It is a significant drain on pantries that were originally designed to deal with emergencies not sustained long-term provision of food."
An inadequate diet can do a great deal of harm to a child’s health and development. “Research studies have shown that an inadequate diet can affect many aspects of a child’s life, from their health to their ability to succeed at work and in school,” said Jean Therrien, RN, MS, executive director of Neighborhood Family Practice in Cleveland.
In addition to improving the health and quality of life of recipients, the report notes, food stamps boost local economies by increasing total food purchases. Thus, the steady decline in food stamp values is hurting Ohio’s economy. If food stamps continue to shrink, Ohio will lose $121.44 million in economic activity in FY2008.
By improving food stamp benefits Congress can help protect needy households in Ohio and other states from going hungry while also improving local economies. At a minimum, the report concludes, Congress should stop the problem from getting worse.
