PathWays PA Policy Blog

From our friends at the Coalition Against Hunger: We know we've been calling on you in recent months for your help with the federal Farm Bill, and we’re grateful for your impactful action. Now, we need your help on a horrible SNAP bill that will be voted on in the Pennsylvania Senate on Monday. HB 1659, which already passed in the PA House of Representatives, would bring SNAP work requirements to ALL "able-bodied adults without children" (those age 18-49) throughout Pennsylvania - even in areas of high unemployment. HB 1659 will require spending millions of STATE dollars for monitoring and compliance in order to turn away FEDERAL SNAP funds that help those struggling to put food on the table. Call your State Senator ( click here to look up his/her phone number) and say: “I urge you to vote no on HB 1659. It is bad for people who are trying their best to make ends meet; bad for communities; and, does nothing to help people find jobs.” Our partners at Hunger-fr...

The Assets & Opportunity Scorecard enables states to compare their performance to other states and the District of Columbia on measures of financial security and household wealth. When it comes to many measures, Pennsylvania ranks right in the middle - some states are better than us, some states are worse. So what's wrong with status quo? Well, here is the impact if Pennsylvania performed as well as the best state (with thanks to the Assets & Opportunity Initiative  for putting this together):

Did you know that PathWays PA provides SNAP application assistance? Our SNAP Benefits Specialist can assist you in accessing SNAP and other workforce supports to help you make ends meet while you're between jobs and provide assistance to ensure you remain employed and are able to move toward self-sufficiency. To participate in an eligibility screening for SNAP benefits and other workforce supports contact Lauren Rodino at (610) 543-5022. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 8/26/15 - Who really uses SNAP? 9/1/15 - PathWays PA's Basic Center Program Helps Homeless Teen Girls Go Back to School 7/7/15 -Summer Food News

Many people believe that the only people who use SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, are the extremely impoverished. These people are thought to have no other form of income and are totally desperate. However, you may be surprised at how many people use food stamps. 63% of kids in St. Louis are on SNAP, along with 36% of adults in that city. 3 in 10 people who live in the Bronx need federal assistance in filling (or attempting to fill) their pantries. People who are in school and trying to receive a higher education are on SNAP. As many millennials graduate and enter the workforce, they find that they still need to apply for SNAP. Isn’t it the goal of everyone to be independent? To not have to rely on anyone and to forge their own path? With the current cycle of poverty, it seems as though the rich get richer while the poor stay poor, trying to keep up with increasing cost of living. So, what is the solution? It is thought by many that once you have a diploma in your hand and a ...

Hunger is a phenomenon that knows no race, gender, or age. Anyone can be affected by it, but the numbers show that certain groups feel the pain more than others. Veterans serve the country in a way that cannot be appreciated enough. They risk their lives in order to keep us safe. So, whys is it that 24% of veterans enrolled in VACS were identified as “food insecure?” The majority of veterans involved in VACS have issues with homelessness, income, drug abuse, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and HIV. Migrant and seasonal workers disproportionately feel the attack of hunger. Because they are relatively young, the average worker is 33 years of age, they are predisposed to hunger. In addition, many workers are able to start at twelve, so their education is cut short at middle school. These are all factors that contribute to the food deficiency among seasonal workers. In the Southwest one group of migrant workers reported that 82% of workers were food insecure. The geographic restr...

Pope Francis’ September visit to Philadelphia has spurred the creation of the Francis Fund in association with Project HOME and the World Meeting of Families Hunger and Homelessness Committee. Headed by sister Mary Scullion, the project has pledged to aid 50 human service organizations. Among the organizations receiving grants so far are Philly Restart, Women Against Abuse, Coalition Against Hunger, and Pathways to Housing PA . It is estimated that 650 homeless will be on the streets of Philadelphia. This number does not including those who have sought shelter. The organization has plans to eradicate this homelessness and hunger, along with stopping human trafficking and domestic violence. Want to donate or learn how to apply for the funding? Visit projecthome.org for more. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 7/7/15 - Summer Food News 6/26/15 - New and Improved? House Bill 222 Remains Cruel 11/20/14 - Runaway Services at PathWays PA and Beyond

House Bill 222 , which previously would have imposed a lifetime ban for all people convicted of drug felonies from receiving SNAP/food stamp benefits and other forms of public assistance, has been amended in response to public outcry. Unfortunately, the redrafted bill remains flawed at heart. The bottom line is, access to such basic subsistence such as food should not be banned once someone has completed their prison sentence. While HB 222 now exempts domestic violence survivors  with a documented "judicial adjudication" of abuse , this still leaves out the majority of survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Amendments have also decreased the lifetime ban to 20 years, an empty promise for those wanting to rebuild their lives upon release from prison or completion of a drug treatment program. Because there will be a vote this week or early next, prompt action must be taken to stop this flawed bill from becoming law. You can make sure your voice...

From our friends at FRAC . New Polling on Attitudes and Perceptions of Hunger and Public Policy Date: Monday, October 27, 2014 Time: 3 p.m. ET Register here The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Tyson Foods recently conducted a poll to measure attitudes and perceptions on hunger and its solutions among voters. Join us for a webinar to go over the findings, which show that Americans firmly believe hunger is a serious issue facing the nation, that its impact is widespread, and that government is key to solving it. The data reveal striking findings on American attitudes and perceptions of hunger, showing that many people either have recently experienced hunger themselves or know someone who has. Specifically, the call will discuss what the new polling data tell us, and how advocates and others concerned about hunger and its adverse effects can use this information to raise awareness of the problem, and knowledge of and support for nutrition programs, particularly chi...

The most recent report from the Department of Agriculture shows that 1 in 7 American households had problems feeding their families at some point in the last year - a number that adds up to 17.5 million families . Even more troubling, these numbers are virtually unchanged from last year. In fact, even though the United States is in a period of job recovery, hunger and food insecurity remain at the same level as in the recession . While the percentage of food insecure households in Pennsylvania is below the national average, more than 1 in 10 PA families are struggling to access the food they need. If you or someone you know need food help, there are many resources available to you. In Pennsylvania, you can apply for SNAP (food stamps) online via the COMPASS system. Families in southeastern PA can also call PathWays PA at 610-543-5022 for assistance in applying for SNAP. Pennsylvania families can also visit  http://www.foodpantries.org/st/pennsylvania  to find local ...

Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is yet again on the chopping block as Congress attempts to pass a final Farm Bill. A cut to SNAP now would come on top of a benefit cut that just took place on November 1, which has left the average SNAP benefit at less than $1.40 per meal. SNAP is among the most effective anti-poverty programs, keeping 5 million people out of poverty in 2012. SNAP matters to neighbors in every community in the country, and Half in Ten is asking you to send a strong message to Congress that you won't stand for more hunger and food insecurity through cuts to SNAP. The program also benefits our economy-every $5 in new spending on SNAP generates $9 in economic activity. The $40 billion cut that the House passed in its nutrition-only Farm Bill would be devastating to families struggling with hunger as well as to the national economy-translating into 55,000 job losses in the first year alone. You can...

Activist and author Sam Daley-Harris has helped thousands of ordinary citizens transform from hopelessness into extraordinarily powerful advocates. This fall, Mr. Daley-Harris released the 20th anniversary edition of Reclaiming Our Democracy, his seminal classic on the topic of community engagement and advocacy. In it he shares how he and the citizen advocacy organizations he has founded (RESULTS and the Microcredit Summit Campaign) or coached (Citizens Climate Lobby) have been leading change-makers in three global movements: 1) microfinance, 2) child survival, and 3) climate change. He joins Witnesses to Hunger on Tuesday, November 19th to discuss his experiences and engage in dialogue about community-based work at Drexel University. Tuesday, November 19th 5:00-6:30pm Mitchell Auditorium Bossone Research Center 3140 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 RSVP http://drexelreclaimingourdemocracy.eventbrite.com Other speakers at this event include: Dr. Mariana Chilton...

Drexel University's Center for Hunger Free Communities will be hosting a Witnesses to Hunger Exhibit on Thursday, September 19, from 5:00pm-9:00pm at Gallery Eleven One located at: 339 N. Front St. Suite B in Camden, NJ. The exhibit centers around ten mothers and grandmothers spark dialogue, engage and inform policymakers, and inspire change. An exhibit featuring the photographs of Camden women who are working to create better lives for their children. The exhibit will also be on view at the following times: Wednesday, Sept 18th - 1:30 to 7:00  Thursday, Sept 19th - 5:00 to 9:00  Friday, Sept 20th - 5:00 to 9:00  Saturday, Sept 21st - 12:00 to 5:00  Please RSVP to the reception here.

A new review of recent polling results , compiled by Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), continues to show high rates of public support for government efforts to combat hunger, high rates of support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), and high rates of opposition to SNAP cuts. The review provides data on the following points: Despite an improving economy, hunger and food insecurity remain serious problems for many American families.  Americans still feel strongly that the federal food stamp program is very important for the country.  Despite concerns about federal spending, there is a strong and stable consensus that cuts to the program are the wrong way to reduce government spending.  The review also reveals the extent of food insecurity across the country -- many families still struggle to put food on the table despite reports of a recovering economy. For example, ...

Nearly 1.8 million Pennsylvanians will see a cut in food assistance this fall equal to 21 lost meals per month for a family of four, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data discussed in a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C. Nutrition assistance is our nation's first line of defense against hunger and a powerful tool to help keep families out of poverty. Benefits are modest, offering many Pennsylvania families a crucial bridge in this slow economic recovery. The cut, which takes effect in November, is the result of an expiring provision included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that temporarily boosted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to strengthen the economy and ease hardship in the wake of the recession. (SNAP is the program formerly known as food stamps.) All of the more than 47 million Americans, including 22 million children, who receive SNAP benefits will be affected by the No...

On Thursday, March 21 from 2:00-4:30PM, at the United Way located at 1709 Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) with the support of many other organizations will host a hunger forum. Many districts have had to scale back on summer school, which means more areas need additional summer feeding sites in order to serve children. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), PA Department of Education (PDE), Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Nutritional Development Services (NDS - which serves the five county SEPA region), and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation are partnering with PCCY to provide attendees the information they need to know about the program. Please RSVP to Stacy Kirk at stacyk@pccy.org or (215) 563-5848 ext. 34 with your name and organization.

A Place at the Table, a film that examines hunger in America today, features the voices of the Center's Director, Dr. Mariana Chilton and Barbie Izquierdo, of Witnesses to Hunger . Fifty million people in the U.S. - one in four young children - live in households that don't have enough money for food that supports an active and healthy life. The film shows Barbie's struggles to feed her two children and the sacrifices she must make to keep food on the table. The film premieres on March 1, 2013 in theaters, on iTunes and On Demand . Take action by visiting A Place At the Table Take Part .

( San Diego Free Press , September 21, 2012; Times-Standard , September 22, 2012) In taking the SNAP/Food Stamp Challenge, Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, lived for a week on the average California benefit of $4.90 per person a day, or $34.31 for the week. She found it demoralizing “to walk through the produce section searching for some type of fruit and vegetables that wouldn’t break the bank.” Noodles, soup and pasta became her diet. As the week went on, she feared the food she had wouldn’t last through the Challenge, and her insecurity about how much money is left “started to weigh on me and dictates every decision I make.” Near the end of the Challenge, she wrote that she was “tired of thinking about, worrying about, craving food.” As a single mom working 60 hours a week, she could relate to the working poor with similar hours who must supplement their income with SNAP/Food Stamps. She also realized that she has a...

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) will host two public conference calls in October. Information on the calls follows below: Breakfast Matters - Effective Messaging: Getting Positive Press in your Community Thursday October 11, 3 – 4 pm ET Click here to register . Learn tips from a national communications firm about how to place your stories with local media and receive positive press coverage for your program. Presenters: * Jon Dickl, School Nutrition Director, Knox County Schools, Tennessee * Amber LaCroix, BRG Communications Afterschool Meals Matter - Community Partnerships Wednesday, October 17, at 1:00 pm EST Click here to register . Learn how you can connect with a myriad of community partners, from parent groups to corporate volunteer programs, who can offer you and your program their time, energy, and support. Community partners can assist you with meal preparation, programming, outreach to increase your participation, and ul...

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 (9:30 am-4 pm) Every year, millions of Americans volunteer their time to feed those in need by holding food drives and serving holiday meals. What more can we do to fight hunger? "Ending Hunger Through Citizen Service" aims to answer that question. This innovative conference is free for volunteers, nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, schools, religious congregations and community groups that want to: Help low-income children enroll in vital food and nutrition programs Improve food access and conduct nutrition education that meets community needs Apply their professional skills to build the capacity of hunger organizations Serve on a nonprofit board Address the root causes of hunger through advocacy WHERE: Arch Street Friends Meeting House 320 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 SPEAKERS: Michael A. Nutter Mayor, Philadelphia Kevin Concannon USDA Under Secretary Food, Nutrit...

New polling data (pdf) released today by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) show overwhelming majorities opposing SNAP cuts. The majorities are as strong as other polls in 2010 and early 2012, despite several intervening months of criticism of the program and false charges by conservative Members of Congress, conservative media outlets, and others. In particular, when asked "[t]his year, Congress will consider cutting billions of dollars from the food stamp program in an effort to reduce federal spending. Do you favor cutting food assistance to low-income families and seniors, or do you think that is the wrong way to reduce government spending," 75 percent say it is the wrong way to reduce spending. That number was 77 percent in January 2012 and 71 percent in November 2010. This poll comes on the same day as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released new data showing more than 50.1 million Americans lived in households struggling against hunger in 2011. ...