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.

Issue 26, July 5, 2005

1. U.S. Conference of Mayors Adopts Resolution Calling on Congress to Protect Food Stamp Program
2. Food Stamp Participation in April 2005 Nearly 1.5 Million Above April 2004 Level
3. Editorial: The Washington Post Questions Congress' Focus on Estate Tax Repeal in Times of Hardship for Low-Income Americans
4. Op-Ed: Cuts to Spending on Food Assistance Programs Would be Detrimental to the Health of Texans
5. New Mexico: Low Educational Achievement Associated with Obesity and Poor Nutrition Prompts Call for 'Multiservice Centers' in Schools
6. Editorial: Toledo Blade Calls on Summer Food Programs to Feed Every Hungry Child
7. California: Summer Meal Programs Kick Off in San Diego, Underused Throughout the State
8. Utah: Local School Districts Craft Snack Nutrition Guidelines
9. Op-Ed: Audit Finds New York City Policy on Food Stamps Breaches State Law
10. Florida: Program Aims to Enhance Access to Food Stamps Among Recipients of SSI
11. Washington: Nearly Half of Those Eligible for Food Stamps in Seattle are Deterred from Applying
12. Op-Ed: Mayor Bloomberg Should Support Bills to Ease Food Stamp Application Process
13. Indiana: Increase in Indiana Residents Receiving Food Stamps Attributed to Economic Decline
14. Press Release: New York City Coalition Against Hunger Hails New Budget Agreement Expanding Funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program
15. Vermont: Households Relying on Food Shelves and Community Kitchens Increase
16. New Jersey: Report Finds Government Assessment of Poverty and Real Cost of Living Do Not Match
17. Michigan: Governor Plans to Veto Budget Bill That Ends Welfare Benefits for 15,000 Families

1. U.S. Conference of Mayors Adopts Resolution Calling on Congress to Protect Food Stamp Program

("Adopted Resolutions Reported Out of the Standing Committees: 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors, Chicago, IL June 10-14, 2005," U.S. Conference of Mayors, June 2005)

A resolution supporting food stamps was adopted at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors this June. The resolution decries Congress' proposed cuts to the food stamp program, which it calls "…the cornerstone of the nation's anti-hunger safety net," and rejects both potential cuts to the program and structural changes. The food stamp program overwhelmingly serves needy households with incomes below the poverty level. Half of those who receive food stamps are children. Of households that receive food stamps, 18 percent have an elderly member and 23 percent have a disabled member. The resolution further notes that food stamps have a positive effect on local economies. Food stamp benefits could not be replaced by local organizations and charities, in the face of large-scale economic problems.

http://tinyurl.com/7os54

2. Food Stamp Participation in April 2005 Nearly 1.5 Million Above April 2004 Level

(Food Research and Action Center, July 2005)

Food stamp participation dipped in April 2005 to 25,362,395, a decline of 72,952 since March, but an increase of nearly 1.5 million people compared to April 2004. States showing the biggest increases over the last year were Washington, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Missouri and Pennsylvania. The number of people participating in the Food Stamp Program in April 2005 was 8.49 million more persons than July 2000, when program participation nationally reached its lowest point in the last decade.

http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/04.05_FSP.html

3. Editorial: The Washington Post Questions Congress' Focus on Estate Tax Repeal in Times of Hardship for Low-Income Americans

("Estate Tax Sham," The Washington Post, June 25, 2005)

This Washington Post editorial expresses alarm that the most heated debate in the Senate is over whether to make the repeal of the estate tax permanent at a time that Americans are losing health insurance at a rapid rate and lawmakers have proposed cuts to food stamps. The editorial calls a complete repeal of the estate tax, "…unjust, unnecessary and unaffordable." The editorial concludes that the question that should be debated "…is whether, at a time when the gap between rich and poor is widening, extraordinarily wealthy Americans ought to be asked to give back some of what they've been able to amass."

http://tinyurl.com/e3p7r

4. Op-Ed: Cuts to Spending on Food Assistance Programs Would be Detrimental to the Health of Texans

("Food aid not where Congress should make cuts," The Valley Morning Star, TX, July 29, 2005)

Texas state senator Senator Lucio, who headed the Joint Interim Committee on Nutrition and Health Among Public School Children, is concerned with the federal government's consideration of cuts to food stamps. In Texas' Cameron and Hidalgo alone, almost 300,000 depend on food stamps. In the U.S., where 11.2 percent of households are already food insecure, cuts will mean further harm, particularly to children and the elderly. Additionally, poor nutrition and obesity are especially problematic in low-income families that don't have access to healthy foods due to their low income, as well as the lack of well-stocked grocery stores in poor neighborhoods. Lucio calls on Congress to maintain food assistance programs: "Preventing hunger and malnutrition should be first and foremost on the agendas of the president, legislators, local officials and even private citizens to help ensure a healthy population."

http://www.valleystar.com/view_more.php?id=58420_0_23_0_M

5. New Mexico: Low Educational Achievement Associated with Obesity and Poor Nutrition Prompts Call for 'Multiservice Centers' in Schools

("Poor health habits reason for grade gap," The New Mexican, June 28, 2005)

A recent Harvard University School of Public Health study highlights the correlation between poor educational achievement and level of health and nutrition among students. The study showed that health problems related to poor nutrition and physical fitness, such as obesity, are linked to educational performance. Findings from the study were cited by New Mexico Secretary of Education, Veronica Garcia, to underscore the importance of integrating centers for health care and nutrition into the public school system. Eliminating junk food is another approach and has gained support in the legislature, while attempts to gain additional funding for physical education have not been successful. Garcia hopes to raise awareness of the gap in achievement associated with student health during a series of public discussions on the issue. This strategy appears to be working, as some school districts, such as Bernalillo, have been moved by these discussions to begin offering breakfast programs.

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/29529.html

6. Editorial: Toledo Blade Calls on Summer Food Programs to Feed Every Hungry Child

("A summer of hunger," The Toledo Blade, June 27, 2005)

This editorial calls for Ohio and Michigan to increase the numbers of children served by their summer food programs. The Toledo Blade notes that the hunger faced by many children during the summer months when they do not have access to free and reduced price school meals is an unnecessary hardship. Both Ohio and Michigan could expand their summer food programs to feed an additional 134,000 and 112,000 children, respectively. This expansion would have the added benefit of increasing federal revenue to each of these states by more than $5 million annually. Citing new research by the Food Research and Action Center, the editorial board argues that the states of Ohio and Michigan are falling down on the job of keeping children fed when only a little more than one tenth of eligible children are served.

[Editor's note: Beginning in summer 2005 Ohio and Michigan are "Lugar pilot" project states, meaning that some barriers posed by paperwork have been alleviated.]

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506260308

7. California: Summer Meal Programs Kick Off in San Diego, Underused Throughout the State

("Low-income kids given a fair chance," The San Diego Union-Tribune, June 30, 2005)

In San Diego, lunch will be available for free to all children under age 18 at 20 locations in low-income neighborhoods throughout the city. "There's a nutrition gap during the summer when the kids who are already food insecure are left to their own devices," said Joanne Tucker, an organizer at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center's kickoff event. Nutrition Education is also part of the package: a 3-year-old pointed to an apple and called it a "go food," referring to what he learned about nutritious foods that won't slow you down. The summer program is underutilized in California as a whole, says a report by the California Food Policy Advocates. More convenient meal sites and better outreach are cited as ways to increase participation.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050630-9999-1m30lunch.html

8. Utah: Local School Districts Craft Snack Nutrition Guidelines

("Vending fare going healthful," Deseret News, June 29, 2005)

Beginning this fall, the Provo school district will require that no more than 40 percent of the contents of vending machines be made up of foods of low nutritional value. Instead, most foods offered will be items like granola bars, bottled water, string cheese, and drinks containing at least 10 percent fruit juice. Every district must craft a school nutrition policy by mid-2006, as part of the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. The policy crafted by the Provo School District also states that more healthful options must be prominently displayed and priced competitively with non-nutritious options, and foods with low-nutritional value cannot be advertised anywhere in schools, except on the machines or on scoreboards.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/print/1,1442,600144913,00.html

9. Op-Ed: Audit Finds New York City Policy on Food Stamps Breaches State Law

("Food stamp delays are just inexcusable," The New York Daily News, June 30, 2005)

A recent audit issued by the New York City Controller reports on the failure of the city to live up to state guidelines more than one third of the time when recipients are found entitled after "fair hearings." Under state law, if a recipient of food stamps is granted benefits after an administrative hearing is decided in their favor, the benefits must be made available within ten days. However, the audit found that the city's policy disregards state law by officially allowing extra days for granting benefits. The New York City Human Resources Administration claims to have been unaware of the ten-day guideline.

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/323674p-276682c.html

10. Florida: Program Aims to Enhance Access to Food Stamps Among Recipients of SSI

("SUNCAP program to automate and streamline food stamp delivery methods," Work Force Florida Weekly Update, June 8, 2005)

The state of Florida was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as one of the states to implement a program targeting food stamp benefits to seniors and disabled persons. The Combined Outreach and Application Process Program, called SUNCAP in Florida, aims to facilitate access to food stamps. For the 112,000 recipients of Supplemental Security Income, SSI, who do not receive food stamp benefits. The goal is to alleviate the problems associated with food insecurity by improving in data sharing and creating a more accessible application process for applicants and recipients of SSI. 50,000 Floridians have joined the program since its inception in January, and by the end of the next fiscal year, those who apply for SSI in Florida will be automatically entered into the SUNCAP program.

http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/news/updates/updates_050608.htm

11. Washington: Nearly Half of Those Eligible for Food Stamps in Seattle are Deterred from Applying

("Half who qualify for food stamps don't get, or want, them," The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 23, 2005)

This article is part of a series on "Hard work, hard times: The plight of Puget Sound's working poor." It examines why many working poor families are more likely to take advantage of services provided by food banks rather than apply for food stamps. Though the percentage of eligible Washington residents who receive food stamps increased by more than 15 percent between 2000 and 2001, over half of those Seattle residents eligible for food stamps in 2001 did not apply for benefits, leaving $40 million of federal funds "on the table." Factors include misunderstandings regarding eligibility requirements, a complicated application procedure, and the stigma attached to receiving and using food stamps. The transition from paper coupons to food stamp cards and reporting rules have been made simpler, has lessened the stigma somewhat, but a lengthy application process remains a large barrier. The six-page application requires that landlords and employers fill out information regarding the applicant, and the required interview at the DSHS office is difficult for working people to accommodate.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/229689_cashingfood23.html

12. Op-Ed: Mayor Bloomberg Should Support Bills to Ease Food Stamp Application Process

("Mayor, sign food stamp bills into law," New York Daily News, June 26, 2005)

The New York City Council passed three bills which aim to alleviate the barriers to application faced by working families. New York Daily News columnist, Albor Ruiz, calls for Mayor Bloomberg to sign these bills. Ruiz quotes Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, which represents the city's food pantries and kitchens, saying, "Improving food stamps participation is the single most effective thing we can do to alleviate soaring hunger in New York City." Approximately 700,000 eligible New York residents do not receive food stamps, which means the city is losing more than $1 billion in federal funding each year. The bills will allow food stamp applications to be faxed or submitted online, and paper applications will be available in locations such as food pantries. The in-person interview, a significant barrier, would no longer be required for those who work, or have disabilities or other hardships.

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/322442p-275670c.html

13. Indiana: Increase in Indiana Residents Receiving Food Stamps Attributed to Economic Decline

("Food stamp usage rises across area: Officials cite number of factors," Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, June 26, 2005)

This article attempts to pinpoint the cause of increases in food stamp usage in Indiana, finding the troubled economy to be the major factor. An interview with one Fort Wayne resident, Lu, highlights the problem. She is 40 years old, lost her job as a machine operator at Dana Corporation and now needs $240 in food stamps per month to help support herself and her son. The increase in food stamp usage among Indiana residents was 74 percent between 2000 and 2004. Unemployment in Indiana rose from 2.9 percent to 5.2 percent between 2000 and 2004, at the same time that the proportion of Indiana residents receiving food stamps increased from 4.9 percent to 8.3 percent. USDA representative Suanne Buggy says that informational outreach on the part of the federal government has also contributed to increases in usage. Buggy notes the importance of making sure those who are eligible do not face barriers to taking advantage of the food stamp program, which also acts to funnel federal dollars to localities and boost their economies. Community Harvest Food Bank's Jane Avery says that more needs to be done to increase food stamp participation, including longer hours so working families can apply.

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/11991072.htm

14. Press Release: New York City Coalition Against Hunger Hails New Budget Agreement Expanding Funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program

("City Budget Adds $2 Million in Hunger Funding: Council Leadership Increases Funding for Pantries and Kitchens," New York City Coalition Against Hunger, June 30, 2005)

This press release, issued by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, NYCCAH, hails a new budget agreement between the New York City Council and Mayor Bloomberg which prevents proposed cuts and adds additional funds for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, EFAP. The new budget brings funding up to $2 million according to increased need.

http://www.nyccah.org

15. Vermont: Households Relying on Food Shelves and Community Kitchens Increase

("Hunger in Vermont: Report on the 2005 Survey of Vermont Food Shelves and Community Kitchens, April 2005," Economic Services Division, Vermont Department for Children and Families, June 2005)

The Vermont Department for Children and Families developed this report on food shelves and community kitchens in the state. Since the last survey was completed in 2003, the caseload served by food shelves increased by 23 percent. In a state of fewer than 620,000 residents, on average 10,379 different households rely on food shelves each month and 4,034 of these households are in the labor force. The number of families with children who receive food from the pantries increased by nearly 30 percent. On average 11,437 children rely on food from these pantries each month, a 21 percent increase since 2003. The services provided by the food shelves are worth nearly $8.9 million annually, but the federal Food Stamp Program spends $43 million/ year in the state.

http://www.ahs.state.vt.us/foodshelfdox/2005SurveyVTFoodShCK.doc [Word document]

16. New Jersey: Report Finds Government Assessment of Poverty and Real Cost of Living Do Not Match

("The 'real' cost of living in Jersey: Group's report challenges the U.S. definition of poor in the Garden State," The Star-Ledger, NJ, June 15, 2005)

A new cost of living analysis put together by University of Washington Social Work professor, Diana Pearce, notes that both parents of a family of four must make at least $10.59 per hour to make the minimum of $44,736 needed per year to be able to afford essentials such as child care, housing and food in Essex County, New Jersey. In Middlesex and Union Counties the yearly income needed by a four-person family is $50,100 and $45,492 respectively. Though the federal government has $19,350 per year as the cut off line for poverty for a family of four, the report notes that a single adult living alone and making $19,350 per year could get by financially in only four counties in New Jersey: Essex, Mercer, Atlantic, and Camden. The report finds that many families in New Jersey cannot afford essentials like housing, food and childcare, but are not considered to be in poverty according to federal guidelines.

http://tinyurl.com/acm2u

17. Michigan: Governor Plans to Veto Budget Bill That Ends Welfare Benefits for 15,000 Families

("15,000 families on welfare stuck in GOP-Dems' battle: Plan to cut off aid worries mother, angers opponents," Lansing State Journal, June 16, 2005)

The Michigan legislature has passed a budget bill on January 1st that will cut off cash welfare for 15,000 families that have received assistance for over four years. The budget also contains cuts for the 60,000 families remaining on assistance, who will face reductions in their assistance checks of $50 per month, on average. Sherron Nelson, a divorced mother of three, who worked full time at low-wage retail jobs for 20 years but now relies on assistance due to a hereditary degenerative bone disease, would lose the $360 in welfare she gets to supplement her $165 in monthly earnings. The legislative majority plans to use the funds saved by the cuts to help balance the state budget. Governor Granholm plans to veto the bill.

http://tinyurl.com/9npul