INDIANAPOLIS — Hunger-fighting groups say they're disappointed the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture used an Indiana visit to tout cuts to food assistance programs.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made several stops in Indianapolis on Monday, including a WorkOne Indy Training Site. That's where he discussed a new rule tightening work restrictions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that he said would move participants toward self-sufficiency and into employment.

Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director with Feeding Indiana's Hungry, said she disagrees.

"Able-bodied adults without dependents can still struggle to find steady employment even in a strong labor market,” Bryant said. “The USDA's own estimate is that there would be 700,000 unemployed individuals who would lose food assistance under this policy. And they don't have anything that shows that this would help them gain employment."

The finalized USDA rule revokes the ability for states to issue waivers on the three-month limit for SNAP benefits to people who aren't either working or in a training program for 20 hours a week. Indiana is not affected because it does not have a work-requirement waiver.

The USDA is proposing two other changes to the SNAP program that would affect automatic enrollment when a person qualifies for another form of federal assistance, and how states use household utility costs to determine SNAP benefit amounts. Bryant contends the changes will create needless layers of red tape that will do a those in greatest need.

"With all of these proposals, Congress considered them and rejected them when they passed the farm bill about this time last year,” she said. “And so it's disappointing that the administration is really taking a second bite at the apple, getting the policies that they wanted out of a farm bill that Congress rejected."

A study from the Urban Institute estimated the three rules together would result in 3.7 million people across the country losing their SNAP benefits. According to the latest data, roughly 520,000 Hoosiers rely on SNAP to put food on the table.


get more stories like this via email

The number of people in Wyoming who don't know where their next meal will come from is on the rise, according to new U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Rachel Bailey - executive director of the Food Bank of Wyoming - said organizations like hers are also facing higher food costs as they work to ensure neighbors in need can access nourishing food during the winter holidays, and beyond.

Donations of canned foods are always welcomed, but Bailey said the best way to help is to make a financial contribution.

"The Food Bank of Wyoming is set up so that we can take $1 and we can make that equal three meals," said Bailey. "So that's why if you can give financially, this is a really good time of year to do it."

The end of COVID-era assistance programs, like boosts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits and the refundable Child Tax Credit, has put more families at risk of hunger.

Proponents of ending the programs warned that they discouraged people from re-entering the workforce.

But this concern was unwarranted - according to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago, who found the programs did not impact workforce participation.

Bailey said most Wyomingites have had life events disrupt their budget - an unexpected medical bill, a car breaks down, a kid gets sick and you have to miss work.

Working with community pantries and other partners across the state, Bailey said the Food Bank is there to help families make it through those tough times.

"Most of the people that we see, they have jobs - they are very hard working," said Bailey. "They have worked their whole life, and they just need some additional assistance."

Contributions to food banks tend to drop after the holidays.

But Bailey said it's important for those who can help to stay involved, especially during winter months when volunteers work to get food to older residents who find it hard to leave their homes.

"Families and individuals are hungry all year round, not just during the holiday season," said Bailey. "Definitely when January and February rolls around, we need to have additional support."




get more stories like this via email

Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt in' to a federal program to do so.

During the COVID Public Health Emergency, families with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school also received Pandemic EBT funding to help them afford groceries during school closures and summer vacation. Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a similar program, Summer EBT, on a permanent basis.

Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access program manager for the nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed, said a huge number of Nebraska children could benefit, but the state must opt in to the program.

"It's an option for states to take this program up," Savaiano explained. "And there is a small investment that's needed to authorize it. But it would pull down $18 million in benefits to be distributed to about 150,000 kids."

Savaiano explained the state would pay about $300,000 annually in administrative costs, and Nebraska families would receive $120 per eligible child for groceries in the summer.

The deadline for states to let the USDA know they are interested is Jan. 1. Nebraska is not among the 14 states and two tribal nations that have signed on so far.

Savaiano argued Nebraska children have a lot to gain and the state has little to lose by signing on in time.

"Even indicating interest does not actually lock us into participation," Savaiano pointed out. "It would just give us the opportunity to participate, while some of these final regulations for this brand-new program are released. But I think we might be out of luck if we don't even indicate our interest by January 1st."

Just over 12% of Nebraskans experience food insecurity. Savaiano observed the state's rural nature probably contributes to the figure, which is higher than the national average. But he added the state has refused "time and time again" to participate in federal programs that could have helped reduce food insecurity.

"Through the pandemic, there were lots of federal assistance programs that we refused -- sometimes first in the nation, or we ended very early -- that made it harder for people to get the food that they need," Savaiano noted.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment on the state's plans regarding the Summer EBT program.


get more stories like this via email

Today, nearly 4,000 Utahns are lacing up their running shoes and putting on a costume for the Utah Food Bank's 18th annual Utah Human Race.

Ginette Bott, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, said as many gather in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it is an important time to remember close to 320,000 Utahns face hunger, and one in 10 Utah kids do not know where their next meal is coming from. She explained by running with an "attitude of gratitude," many are helping the food bank in the fight against statewide hunger.

"We know that what we do comes at a crucial time for people on a daily basis," Bott noted. "But when you have families that are trying to celebrate a holiday tradition, regardless of which holiday they celebrate, and they have to stretch that budget even more, what we do for families is really, really important."

The event is taking place at the Sandy Promenade and starts at eight in the morning. Runners can choose between a 5k or 10k race.

The American Farm Bureau Federation found Thanksgiving dinner was less expensive this year than last but food costs still remain high compared to years past. The group found this year's "classic Thanksgiving feast" for 10 people cost just over $6 per guest. Bott pointed out the race is part of the food bank's Holiday Food and Fund Drive and encouraged Utahns to donate food, time or money if they can.

"Any of those three things would be appreciated, and if you don't come to the Utah Food Bank, go to a pantry in your neighborhood or even another organization that you are passionate about," Bott suggested. "Time of giving is great during the holiday season, and the biggest mistake people make is not doing something."

Bott stressed for every dollar going to the Utah Food Bank, they can turn it into more than $8 worth of goods and services. She added the fight against hunger takes a communitywide approach and reminded people it is not something only applying during the holiday season but throughout the course of the year. She invited Utahns to give thought to what it is they can share with others.


get more stories like this via email