The Weekly Food Research and Action Center 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. South Bronx Epitomizes Paradox of Hunger and Obesity
(The New York Times, March 14, 2010)

New York’s South Bronx reported the highest rate of “food hardship” in a recent report released by the Food Research and Action Center. The area also has one of the nation’s highest obesity rates. Experts note that hunger and obesity are not “parallel problems persisting in side-by-side neighborhoods, but plagues often seen in the same household, even the same person.” “Hunger and obesity are often flip sides to the same malnutrition coin,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. “Hunger is certainly almost an exclusive symptom of poverty. And extra obesity is one of the symptoms of poverty.” According to the FRAC survey, nearly 37 percent of residents in the 16th Congressional District – which includes the South Bronx – reported that they lacked money to buy food (“food hardship”) in a recent 12-month period. This percentage is much higher than the national average of 18.5 percent. Part of the problem lies with the fact that poverty-stricken areas often lack grocery stores. In nine of the Bronx’s 12 community districts, there are too few supermarkets, reported a 2008 city government study. Those stores selling food carry mostly high calorie, more “unhealthy” foods. “[T]he strategic response needs to be linked in various ways,” said Linda I. Gibbs, deputy mayor for health and human services. “We tackle the challenge on three fronts – providing income supports, increasing healthy options and encouraging nutritious behavior.” Experts say additional factors play a role since poor people “often work longer hours and work multiple jobs, so they tend to eat on the run,” said Andrew G. Rundle, an epidemiologist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Other areas in New York City also posted high food hardship rates – the 10th Congressional District ranked sixth in the FRAC report. Newark (NJ-10) ranked ninth, with 31 percent of respondents reporting food hardship. Nationally, Mississippi is the hungriest state at 26 percent, with Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, the Carolinas and Oklahoma following close behind. New York’s 17.4 percent ranks the state 27th; New Jersey, at 15.5 percent, is 41st, and Connecticut is 47th, with 14.6 percent reporting food hardship.

2. Number of Families on SNAP/Food Stamps in North Carolina Grows
(Charlotte Observer, March 21, 2010)

More than one in seven North Carolina residents – 1.31 million people – received SNAP/Food Stamps in February 2010, a 45 percent increase over the past two years. Called the Food and Nutrition Services in the state, the SNAP/Food Stamp Program has increased to the point where county governments, charged with administering the program, are struggling under the crush of work. Many of these offices were already “stretched thin” and caseworkers are overburdened due to the recession, with unemployment forcing many residents to ask for help in feeding their families. The money distributed not only benefits the recipients, but boosts local economies. More than $169 million on SNAP/Food Stamp EBT cards was distributed in February 2010; $90 million was distributed through the program two years earlier.

3. Minnesota Bill Proposes Eliminating SNAP/Food Stamp Asset Test
(Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 6, 2010)

A state representative in Minnesota recently introduced a bill that would eliminate the asset test for SNAP/Food Stamps as well as slightly raise the income limit. The bill would keep middle-class families, struggling through the recession, job losses, and the housing crisis, from maxing out credit cards, liquidating everything they own, and plunging into poverty. Eliminating the asset test would qualify an additional 75,000 to 87,000 low-income Minnesota residents for SNAP/Food Stamps, which would create an estimated $154 million in state economic activity, according to a draft study by Second Harvest Heartland. Currently, Minnesotans applying for the food support program – the state’s name for SNAP/Food Stamps – with more than $7,000 in assets are ineligible for the benefit. “These are really troubled times and people maybe just need help for just a short period,” said Colleen Moriarty, executive director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota. “We don’t want to throw people into abject poverty forever.” Studies have shown that savings help families climb out of poverty, but asset tests send the message that saving money is pointless. As of December, 21 states had no asset test for SNAP/Food Stamps, and seven states planned on dropping the test. SNAP/Food Stamp use in the state has skyrocketed, climbing from an average of 279,971 recipients a month in 2008 to 315,576 in 2009. But, the state has one of the worst utilization rates in the country, failing to enroll 55 percent of eligible recipients, according to the Second Harvest study.

4. FRAC’s Food Hardship Data Valuable to Large Metro Areas
(National League of Cities Weekly, March 15, 2010)

Municipal offices in 100 large Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) can obtain localized data on food hardship rates for the first time, through FRAC’s report titled “Food Hardship: A Closer Look at Hunger.” The report uses Gallup survey data, and found that the proportion of Americans who reported they did not have sufficient food at some point during the year – “food hardship” - rose from 16.3 percent in early 2008 to 18.5 percent at the close of 2009. More than one in four households with children in the 15 largest MSAs reported food hardship, according to the study. The report also breaks down the data according to national, state and congressional district level, and by households with and without children.

5. Programs, Web sites and Outreach Connect Californians to SNAP/Food Stamps
(Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2010; The Business Journal, March 17, 2010)

In order to boost participation in the SNAP/Food Stamp Program, California social service agencies are using various methods to get the word out about the program and ease the application process. The program currently serves fewer than half of the state’s residents who are eligible to receive the assistance. Forms are available for download [http://www.cdss.ca.gov/research/PG385.htm] and an online pre-screening tool [http://www.cdss.ca.gov/foodstamps/PG849.htm] is available through the California Department of Social Services’ Web site. Outreach workers from the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services inform residents about the program at food pantries, health centers and other community sites. Los Angeles also opened 21 Family Source Centers to connect residents to SNAP/Food Stamps and other assistance programs. Residents can fill out a “One-E-App” form at the centers to determine their eligibility for SNAP/Food Stamps and other programs.

The WE Connect Program was at the Fresno, Calif. Fairgrounds recently, bringing together local, state and federal public and private resources to help needy families. California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver, created the program, which connects families to SNAP/Food Stamps, the Earned Income Tax Credit, WIC, and state educational programs. Mrs. Shriver visited Fresno during the WE Connect Program to help raise awareness of the programs and services available to families in the state.

6. Rainy Day Fund Will Help Hawaii Agencies Continue to Provide SNAP/Food Stamps, Other Assistance
(Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 13, 2010)

Hawaii’s rainy-day fund “must be tapped to help maintain essential services for those on the brink of destitution” during this time of state budget cuts due to the recession, notes this op-ed. As the state was facing a budget shortfall, Governor Linda Lingle said that spending cuts would be shared equally among agencies; however, it was clear that the school system could not sustain even those cuts. Those social service agencies responsible for SNAP/Food Stamps, unemployment, Medicaid and other “survival services” need to be bolstered in order to cope with rising caseloads. Unemployment is expected to rise for 10 to 18 months after the economy hits bottom, said Darwin Ching, director of the state’s Labor Department. Employment did not reach previous national peaks for 31 months after the 1990 recession, and 46 months after the 2001 recession.

7. Vermont Opens Call Center for SNAP/Food Stamps, Other Assistance
(WPTZ, March 17, 2010)

The Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) has a new centralized call center, which will manage clients on the SNAP/Food Stamp Program as well as other assistance programs. A new DCF Web site – www.mybenefits.vt.gov – will enable people to apply for programs online as well as check their status. The new call center will make it easier for people to get their questions answered by an actual employee, said DCF Commissioner Steve Dale. He joined Governor Jim Douglas recently for a demonstration of the call center and the new Web site, part of a major state transition to digital technology. The move will save taxpayers $2 million annually, and allow DCF to use 30 fewer employees in order to serve clients.

8. Oregon’s 211 Line Helps Connect Unemployed to SNAP/Food Stamps
(Blue Oregon, March 1, 2010)

Many unemployed Oregonians don’t know what benefits they are eligible for – but the 211 phone line can provide referrals to SNAP/Food Stamps, unemployment programs, job training and search assistance, health insurance options, and mortgage assistance programs. In this op-ed, 211info’s external relations coordinator Matt Kinshella notes that there are many who need help, but may have trouble finding it. “In the worst economy since the Great Depression, Oregonians everywhere are struggling to put food on the table, keep the heat on and stay in their homes,” he writes. “Nonprofits and public agencies are ready to help, but when people reach out they get lost in a system that is fragmented and confusing.” The 211 line “cuts through the clutter.” One recent caller asked about WIC, but thought she and her husband would have to cash out their 401(k) in order to become eligible for SNAP/Food Stamps. “It is not uncommon,” writes Kinshella, “for people new to social services to have misconceptions that keep them from applying for what is perhaps the most accessible of all the basic forms of assistance. Gladly, we were able to give her this vital information.”

9. Ohio School District Offers All Students Free Breakfast
(Chillicothe Gazette, March 14, 2010)

Ohio’s Chillicothe City School began offering free breakfast to all students on March 1. According to food service director Ken Lovatt, the move has increased the number of students eating breakfast at school by 44 percent. “Studies have proven that kids who eat breakfast achieve higher academic scores, are more alert in class, visit the school nurse less often, and are better behaved in school,” said Lovatt. “Studies also show that when you eat breakfast, you are less likely to overeat during the day.”

10. Detroit School Hosts Pep Rally to Promote Free Breakfast Program
(The News Herald, March 13, 2010)

Lafayette Elementary School in Detroit, Mich. began offering free breakfast to all students at the beginning of the school year. All 520 students are now able to pick up a free breakfast and eat it in their classrooms. Recently, the school hosted members of the Detroit Lions and government officials to promote the success of the program. Audrey Rowe. USDA deputy administrator for Special Nutrition Programs, brought greetings to the students from the President and First Lady, and commented “Breakfast programs like this help to make sure those children get at least a nutritious meal to start their day.” Mark Rodriguez, the school district’s food service director, commented “It’s a good thing that we are doing this for the community, but it’s also a sad reminder [that] the need is out there.” Across the state, more than 2,900 school breakfast sites provide the meal daily for more than 251,000 students.

11. Indiana Legislature Approves Employment Measures
(Wane.com, March 13, 2010)

Just before adjourning, Indiana lawmakers approved a number of measures aimed at helping the unemployed and those on SNAP/Food Stamps. Employers will receive a tax credit of 10 percent for each newly created job, and business won’t see an increase on taxes they pay into the state unemployment fund for another year. That fund borrowed $1.6 billion in federal funding to remain operating. The state will also use some federal stimulus money to help subsidize salaries of people hired who were unemployed or SNAP/Food Stamp recipients.