This is a post written last year but it’s applicable to this year’s Hunger Action Week and I’ve added more details and statistics to it

[In Washington, there was a 56% increase from 2007 to 2009 of people relying solely on food stamps]

While our Hunger Challenge is specifically and intentionally not a “food stamp challenge”, it is very closely related – for example, the reason we chose $7 a day is because it is the maximum benefits a Washington resident can get from food benefits. For that reason, it’s worth discussing some of the criticisms people have against “food stamp challenges”.

When you look online at “food stamp challenges” going throughout the country, critics always point out that food stamps are only designed to supplement food purchases, not take care of them 100%. Thus, they argue, subjecting yourself to the rule that you can only live off of what food stamps is misleading and hyperbolic.

While it is true that food benefits were designed to supplement other spending, the harsh reality is that many people rely solely on their benefits for food.

The New York Times recently wrote an article talking about this very issue.  They do a great job of highlighting personal stories of people facing this harsh reality.  Along with the anecdotal evidence, they back it up with some hard facts.  In Washington,  205,738 people live on food stamps and have no other source of income.  That is an increase of 56% from two years ago.  People are suffering now more than ever.

With cost of living and unemployment on the rise, many are forced to make tough decisions. Should they, for example, pay their utility bill or buy extra groceries? As you can imagine, most people will choose to rely only on their food benefits and use the money they have to handle the various other financial obligations they have.

While Basic Food and other food stamp programs are great, they aren’t perfect. They can’t account for things like unexpected medical bills or layoffs.

For that reason, trying to live off of food benefits alone is a realistic reflection of what many face every day.