Why food stamp enrollment has increased (and why it’s a good thing)
I am a sucker for infographics and boy does GOOD Magazine produce solid infographics. They consistently take data and make it look awesome.
They recently graphed out the number of people who are using food stamps with interesting results.
(Aside: “Food Stamps” is a colloquialism. Nationally, the program is called SNAP and in Washington it’s known as Basic Food. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll be calling it Food Stamps)
Why More People Are Signing Up…
The data shows that people have been signing up for food stamps at record-setting rates. And while the weakened economy has a lot to do with it, there are other factors in play.
For one, states have broadened their income rules, making more people eligible for the program. In Washington, the income limit increased from 130% federal poverty level to 200% federal poverty level.
Second, the stimulus package increased the amount of benefits people receive which made the program more appealing to folks.
…And Why It’s A Good Thing
All the news articles talking about food stamp increases frame the issue around how it’s a sign of how bad our economy is. Yes, there is some truth to that angle. However, by focusing on that, they end up disparaging a great program. I love the food stamp program!
I love it because it helps families and individuals during tough times. They aren’t forced to choose between paying rent and eating a meal.
Plus, the program acts as a tremendous local stimulus. People are able to go to their grocery stores and buy food they normally wouldn’t be able to. In turn, the grocery stores become busier and can hire more staff. And this isn’t just theoretical either; here’s a quote from a recent CBS article:
“The Department of Agriculture estimates that every $5 of food stamp spending results in $9.20 worth of economic activity.
That’s why the food stamp boost is also helping this in New York City, where one supermarket manager says his sales are up 10 percent since the stimulus program started.
“We’re actually thinking of hiring more people,” said Jose Almonte, the manager of an Associated Supermarket.”
We Want Participation Rates Up
Food stamps help those in need and also help local economy. That’s why we launched our Bridge to Basics program to get more people enrolled. In King County, about 33% of those who can get food stamps aren’t even signed up! While getting more people in the program will made the graph bars grow longer and the news stories continue, it’s worth it because families will have food on their tables.
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