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SNAP is getting food assistance to millions who need help reports @JasonDeParle @NYTimes. @centeronbudget Dottie Rosenbaum also wrote on the key role SNAP has been playing and how Congress can address hardship through SNAP. Check out my thread
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/us/politics/coronavirus-food-stamps.html?smid=tw-share
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/us/politics/coronavirus-food-stamps.html?smid=tw-share
1.Since Feb, over 6 million more people have applied and been approved for benefits. SNAP is designed to expand. And, Congress set up critical new flexibility through the Families First Act to help states respond. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/most-states-are-using-new-flexibility-in-snap-to-respond-to-covid-19
3. By expanding to meet rising need, SNAP reduces hardship that the downturn is causing. Lots of new data reveal rapidly rising hardship and food needs, especially among people of color and families w/kids. These problems would be much worse w/o SNAP.
https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/state-food-insecurity.html
https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/state-food-insecurity.html
4. We can do more to address hardship. SNAP is a powerful platform that can help. That’s why we recommend a 15% increase in the SNAP benefit. Such an increase would help continue to reduce poverty and lessen the rise in food insecurity. https://www.cbpp.org/blog/boosting-snap-5-reasons-why-households-need-more
5.The @nytimes lifts up SNAP's role: Mr. Baker exhausted his savings and watched his shelves dwindle as he waited 2 months for unemployment aid. When he turned to SNAP, it arrived in a week — a safety net beneath the safety net. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/us/politics/coronavirus-food-stamps.html?smid=tw-share
6. Boosting SNAP is also powerful economic stimulus. Every xtra SNAP $ during a downturn results in $1.50 in spending that’s injected into the economy according to USDA and in more than $1.65 in spending according to @MoodysAnalytics Mark Zandi.
7. The piece wisely quotes my colleague. “SNAP goes a long way towards alleviating hunger but doesn’t eliminate it because the benefits aren’t high enough,” said Dottie Rosenbaum of CBPP. “Omitting a boost in SNAP benefits would be an unconscionable failure.” #BoostSNAPNow
8. SNAP matters now more than ever. This week, you can help spread the word: #BoostSNAPNow
