The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

1. Employer-Provided Health Insurance Key to Reducing Ranks of Uninsured
(CQ Healthbeat News, February 20, 2008)

An Urban Institute study, published in Health Affairs Week, claims that reducing the number of uninsured Americans cannot be accomplished through raising wages alone; employers must offer coverage to their workers. The study cites figures showing Americans lost insurance at a faster rate during the 2004-2006 economic recovery than during the 2000-2004 recession, and found that wages failed to keep up with inflation, making it impossible for workers to pay for insurance themselves. John Holahan, lead author of the study, stated “…the dominant factor behind the growing number of uninsured was the decline in employer sponsored health coverage.” Low-income workers below 200 percent of the poverty line were hit hard, with two million losing health coverage. Coverage for these workers fell 6.2 percent, while coverage for other, non-elderly Americans fell only 1 percent.
(Article available at CQ by subscription only).

2. State Agencies Fail to Register Low-Income Voters as Required by Law
(Fox Business News, February 12, 2008))

Few low-income people who aren’t registered to vote also are not aware that there’s a law – the National Voter Registration Act – requiring agencies serving them to register them as voters. According to a report titled “Unequal Access: Neglecting the National Voter Registration Act, 1995-2007, from the nonpartisan groups Demos and Project Vote, states including Virginia, Florida, Texas, and Nevada are neglecting to offer voter registration services. The law, in place since 2003, was enacted to increase voter numbers by mandating state agencies register individuals applying for food stamps, Medicaid, or a drivers license. Some states – North Carolina and Iowa – are complying with the law, but thousands of low-income citizens remain off the voting records. According to the report, public agency registrations have declined 79 percent between 1995 and 2006 – from 2.6 million to less than a quarter (540,000) of that number.

3. Legislatures Considering Mandatory Sick Leave Bills
(Stateline.org, February 13, 2008)

Employees who come to work ill run the risk of making their co-workers sick, but for many workers who come down with an illness, they have no other option. It’s either show up at work or lose a day’s pay – or worse, lose their job, points out Kate Kahn with the National Partnership for Women & Families. 12* states and D.C. are introducing bills which would make employers provide all employees with paid sick leave. Sick leave as a basic labor standard would allow employees – many in the service industry, who have direct contact with the general public – to take off work without being penalized. According to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, 85 percent of food service workers have no paid sick days.
(*Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming.)

4. Advocate Outlines Nature of Injustice Related to Hunger
(www.stjohnsinthemountains.org, January 13, 2008)

Robert Dostis, Executive Director of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, spoke to a church congregation recently on the direct relationship between justice and hunger. Food is the “most basic requirement for human survival,” stated Dostis. He asked “Where is the justice in so many hungry Vermont children – enough children to fill 380 yellow school buses?” The problem is not getting better, explained Dostis, evidenced by the fact that the number of households without enough food to feed children every day has doubled over the past few years. Dostis notes that food costs are increasing, causing families to go without meals in order to pay also-increasing electricity and fuel bills. He noted that food banks and other food distribution organizations are experiencing increased demands and are having a tough time keeping shelves stocked; for example, Vermont’s Foodbank had twice as much food at this time last year than it has now. Dostis notes that, personally, he’s shocked by the amount of money he has to spend at the grocery store, and wonders how people can afford food at all. He believes the solution is in “addressing the underlying structures, the causes of hunger. We were not holding our government accountable for bring forth justice.”

5. Food Stamps are an Important Factor in Boosting State’s Economic Activity
(Birmingham News, February 18, 2008)

Alabama wants to enroll more of its residents in the Food Stamp Program, understanding that food stamps not only feed the hungry but can contribute to a state’s economy. Aproximately 546,000 Alabama residents receive food stamps, a figure above the national participation average. However, an almost equal number - 400,000 – are eligible but not enrolled. Alabama Department of Human Resources commissioner Page Walley recognizes how difficult it is to add beneficiaries in the current tough economy, but also realizes how important the program is to the state’s economy, which would gain $9.20 in economic activity for every $5 spent on food stamps. Last year, Alabama experienced an estimated $1.1 billion in economic activity through the food stamp program; a small 5 percent increase in recipients would mean tens of millions of dollars in economic activity. Alabama’s food stamp participation goals include increasing enrollment within the Hispanic and elderly populations by 5 percent. Alabama has also instituted initiatives to make it easier for some populations to enroll and maintain their status in the program. Starting in July, the elderly and disabled will to apply by phone and re-enroll every three years instead of every year. Also, the state is looking into expanding its online application process, which currently only tells potential recipients whether or not they are eligible for food stamps.

6. School Menus Counter Challenges with Quality and Selection
(The Observer, February 13, 2008)

New Jersey’s Kearny High School, in meeting state policies governing trans-fats and sugar, now offers a wide selection of custom-made sandwiches, beverage options ranging from flavored water to 2 percent milk, and fresh fruits including bananas, apples and watermelon. Although the changes have cost the county’s board of education, those costs have not been passed along to students. Kearny High’s food service director Susan Fleckenstein noted “When introducing healthy foods, it’s going to cost a little more.” Still, the company running the cafeteria’s food service, Pomptonian, must compete with off-campus choices available to students who are allowed to leave the campus for lunch. The school and food service staff remain committed, however, to making the switch to healthy foods work.

7. Programs Help Make Fresh Food Affordable for Everyone
(Barre Montpelier Times-Argus, February 18, 2008)

Increasing the number of farmers’ markets that take EBT cards is one way Vermont is helping the 30 percent of low-income residents who can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables improve their diet. Additional tactics are being developed and or are in place to steer needy residents away from cheaper “starchy” meals. A recent workshop involving close to thirty members of Vermont’s Northeast Organic Farming Association provided information on how farmers can increase the amount of healthy food available and affordable to low-income families and the elderly. Some of the methods currently in place are:

- the Farm Share Program, which transports vegetables to senior housing projects;
- the Farm-to-Family Farmers’ Market Program, which gives low-income residents $30 in coupons redeemable at farmers’ markets;
- the Vermont Farm-to-Family Program, which contributes $30 coupon books to WIC participants, also redeemable only at farmers’ markets.

8. Economy Forces Food Stamp Recipient Numbers to Historic High in Ohio County
(Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 15, 2008)

According to a study by the Center for Community Solutions, 14 percent of Ohio’s Cuyahoga County’s 1.4 million residents received food stamps in 2007. Joseph Gauntner, the county’s director of Employment and Family Services, commented “That’s very likely the highest percentage ever enrolled in the program.” In addition, the number of food stamp recipients in the county increased by 40 percent between 2002 and 2007. The increased numbers are highest in the county’s suburbs, where the numbers have doubled, due, in large part, to the slowing economy. “The former steelworker who now cleans offices or works at McDonald’s suddenly needs help,” said Gauntner. The county’s efforts to publicize and enroll more eligible people in the program has also contributed to the increase in numbers. However, the Food Stamp Program is not the only safety-net program experiencing increased numbers. The report found higher use of food pantries, more suburban children eligible for free school lunches, and the United Way’s help line fielding more calls from the public looking for assistance in locating food.

9. Advocates Ask Alaska Legislature for School Breakfast Funding
(KTUU, February 12, 2008)

The Alaska Food Coalition held a breakfast for legislators to publicize statistics from their recent report and ask the lawmakers to earmark $1 million for school breakfasts, a move that would also attract federal funding. According to the Coalition’s report, 8,500 low-income Alaskan students miss out on breakfast either at home and at school. Alaska’s K-12 education budget is $1 billion; Susannah Morgan with the Food Bank of Alaska and a part of the Coalition said they want to make sure the money is well-spent by helping children be “nutritionally prepared to learn.”

10. Nutrition Programs Not Reaching Eligible Recipients
(New Brunswick Home News Tribune, February 20, 2008)

A report by the Poverty Research Institute of Legal Services of New Jersey finds that the state’s Food Stamp, School Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs can provide meals and nutrition assistance to many more children and adults than the programs currently serve. New Jersey is ranked as the richest state, but it is 46th among the states in food stamp participation despite having a sizeable low-income population. The report advocates for increased outreach to enroll more eligible residents; this editorial commenting on the report argues “it can afford to design and carry out targeted public information initiatives that will reach the men, women and children who are a few square meals shy of a decent daily diet.”

11. Non-Tax-Filers Must Submit Tax Returns to Receive Rebates
(Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2008)

Over 20 million Americans - low-income workers, some Social Security recipients, veterans receiving pension and disability income, their spouses receiving survivor’s benefits, and retired railroad workers – could miss out on their economic stimulus checks by not filing tax returns. However, many of these individuals live on untaxed income, which means they don’t file returns and they may find it difficult to do so. While the IRS is conducting “an aggressive outreach campaign” focusing on Veterans Affairs, Social Security and AARP, some experts believe the whole endeavor may be “a disaster,” with many individuals and families not realizing they’re due a rebate check. Rebate amounts will be based on income tax in 2007 as contained on IRS tax forms, and many low-income workers can file the 1040EZ, which requires little documentation. Some experts see the tax filing step as a “necessary evil.” Still, many believe that millions of Americans will miss out on the funds, especially families with children, because they’re not used to filing with the IRS every year.

12. New Laws Could Protect Low-Income Workers from Predatory Lenders
(Albany Times-Union, February 13, 2008)

Predatory lenders could operate under stricter guidelines if tougher regulations are enacted by the state of New York. These companies charge income tax filers high fees often 15 to 20 percent of their tax rebates, in exchange for tax filing assistance. Although the “same-day” service to low-income filers is essentially a loan from the firm to the filer, payment is virtually guaranteed as the money is from tax rebates. However, residents of poor neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable to paying high percentages of their refund and rebate money to these lenders, who advertise heavily in those neighborhoods. Filers, who often claim the Earned Income Tax Credit rebate, don’t know that there are organizations that will help them at no cost. “These folks…are being taken advantage of,” stated Albany Common Council member Catherine Fahey, who sponsored an approved resolution calling for better regulation of the firms. Diana Breen of the Children’s Defense Fund, which has studied EITC, cited $250 million lost in New York State each year through refund loans and tax preparation fees. “If you’re making an income that’s low enough to get an Earned Income Tax Credit, this is money you can’t afford to lose,” said Breen.

13. Minnesota’s Child Poverty Numbers are Increasing
(Post-Bulletin, February 13, 2008)

A number of indicators point to child poverty numbers increasing in Minnesota. Cited “disturbing” by child advocates, the increased numbers are revealed through food stamp totals. According to Children’s Defense Fund executive director Jim Koppel, 6 percent of children in the state received food stamps in 2000; that number doubled to 12 percent in 2005. The number of uninsured children in Olmstead County, which usually has the lowest rate of children in poverty, has increased 55 percent between 2001 and 2004. Koppel framed the state’s goals by saying “What we’re concerned about is a healthy, nutritious development of children that prepares them to learn.”

14. Salty Diet Linked to Children’s Obesity
(BBC News, February 21, 2008)

British researchers have found a link between the amount of salt children consume and their obesity levels. Studying 1,600 children, the researchers found that salty diets cause children to drink more liquid, usually soft drinks high in sugar. The report in the journal Hypertension suggests reducing children’s daily salt intake to 6 grams per day can eliminate 250 calories each week. Similar research found the same link in adults; this is the first such study on children. Dr. Myron Weinberger of the Indiana University Medical Center believes reducing salt and sugar consumption in children, along with increasing their physical activity, could help eliminate cardiovascular disease in the adult population.