Food Stamp Cuts Would Leave Locals Ineligible, Hungry

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:27 — 6.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

The U.S. House of Representatives struck down the first draft of the Federal Farm bill, yesterday. The bill, which is rewritten every four years, provides subsidies and insurance to farmers and agricultural businesses. It also serves as the regulatory legislation for SNAP benefits, formerly called food stamps.

The failed congressional draft would have expanded work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries. The expanded requirements are part of a plan by congressional Republicans to cut SNAP’s budget, in the coming years.

Indiana Institute for Working Families policy analyst Amy Carter said the proposed work requirements would negatively impact Indiana residents. Carter said, at least in the short term, the Farm Bill failure was a small victory for SNAP-dependent Hoosiers.

SNAP provides aid to 40 million people throughout the United States, or about 12 percent of the population. It is also the largest part of the Farm bill, taking up 80 percent of the budget from 2014-2018, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the USDA.

The proposed work regulations on SNAP beneficiaries were introduced shortly after president Trump’s announcement earlier this year that he plans to cut SNAP benefits by $213 billion over the next decade, eliminating approximately 30 percent of the service’s annual budget. Trump also plans to remove approximately four million people from SNAP, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Policy and food aid organizations believe increased restrictions and cutbacks will cause a dramatic increase in number of food insecure people. ‘Food insecure’ refers to people unable to consistently provide food for themselves, but are also ineligible for federal food aid programs, like SNAP.

Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Emily Weikert Bryant said increasing the number of food insecure people in the state will significantly strain charity organizations. Feeding Indiana’s Hungry provides support for 11 different food banks throughout Indiana, including Hoosier Hills Food Bank.

The amount of food insecure residents who are ineligible for SNAP varies widely throughout the state.

According to a Feeding America study, Monroe County has the second highest food insecurity rate in the state, behind only Marion County. 25,000 Monroe County residents rely on local charities like Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. 7,500 of those residents are considered ineligible for federal assistance. Bryant says that number could increase if the proposed cuts to SNAP are passed by Congress.

Many families who are food insecure but ineligible for SNAP also don’t qualify for other federal food aid programs, such as free and reduced lunches for students. One in five children in southern Indiana go hungry every day, according to data from Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. The local affiliate of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry is Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Julio Alonso is Hoosier Hill’s Executive Director. He said, if the proposed cuts do pass in the next draft of the Farm Bill, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and many other local food aid groups, will face a substantial increase in demand. An increase that, according to Alonso, many charities aren’t prepared to handle.

The Farm Bill will now go back to committee where a new draft will be created. A vote on the new version is anticipated in June.