Cuts that Sting Vulnerable Populations

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture annual report, 15% of U.S. households are food insecure meaning at any point during the year lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members of the household. Nearly 60% of all food insecure households participated in one or more of the three Federal food and nutrition assistance programs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest of the three food assistance programs and aims to help families during economic hardship.

Despite these staggering statistics, less than a month ago the House of Representatives voted to cut $40 billion from SNAP, colloquially known as “food stamps,” program over a 10-year period. As you can imagine, news of this potential cut alarmed advocates, politicians, social-service providers, and food stamp recipients alike. Consequently, many agencies that assist low-income families are starting to prepare for the potential cut in benefits – including determining how they will provide information and services to participating households as well as make up the difference if the cut takes effect.

From Insecure to Secure: True Self-Sufficiency Defined

This cut could affect 23 million low-income households. This is Why We Do What We Do. As many agencies are preparing for a possible cut in food benefits, Interfaith is continuously advocating for our families to achieve true self-sufficiency which we define as the ability to provide for oneself without the help of others; independence from government assistance/mainstream benefits. We understand that long-term government assistance is not guaranteed, as evidenced by the recent government shutdown. Our hand-up model provides our families with the skills needed to transform from insecure to secure – and we have the outcomes to prove it!  At twelve months post-Interfaith, nearly 50% of our graduates are able to meet their financial needs with their own resources and without the help of any mainstream benefits. 

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Stephanie McNeil, Outcomes and Research Manager, has over five years experience of working with children with special needs. Prior to Interfaith, Stephanie has provided outreach support and needs assessments for diverse populations. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Houston and a M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas. Stephanie can be reached at smcneil@ihcdallas.org or (469) 828-1823.