Expanding Food Stamps In DC

[Greg Bloom, of DC's Bread for the City, is guest-blogging here with a summary of reporting done on Bread for the City's blog, Beyond Bread.]

A new wave of food stamps is flooding into Washington, DC. And we sure do need it.

Even before the recession, almost a fifth of DC’s residents were living below the federal poverty line. DC also suffers from the urban food infrastructure problems often discussed here – like vast food deserts that leave entire communities without access to fresh, nutritious produce. As a result, some of our nation's worst food insecurity is found right here in the capitol.

And yet, DC also has one of the country’s highest levels of participation in the food stamp benefits program (now known as SNAP). Readers of this blog won’t be surprised to hear that food stamps aren't sufficient to ensure food security: the cost of living – and the swiftly rising cost of food in particular – just doesn’t match up to the meager levels of SNAP assistance. (Here at Bread for the City, we typically hear from our clients that their food stamps run out by the third week of the month.)

But you'll be encouraged to hear that steps are being taken in the right direction. This month, DC City Council passed legislation that will expand the breadth and scale of food stamp assistance in the District.

The legislation does a few different things, all fairly technical (you have been warned!):

• First and foremost, the legislation raises the qualifying line for food stamps from 130% of the Federal Poverty line to 200%. (The sorely outdated Federal Poverty Line is $10,830 for a single person—and just $22,050 for a family of 4.) This is achieved through “categorical eligibility,” in which food stamps are basically linked to a service funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
• Second, the legislation lifts a cap on assets that previously prevented people with savings from participating in the SNAP program. In the past, DC residents who had more than $2,000 to their name would have to spend it down before qualifying for food assistance. Now, a family facing unemployment will get food assistance before going flat broke.
• Third, the bill implements another policy tweak known as "heat and eat." This crafty move enrolls all food stamp participants in the Low-Income Heat and Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program. As a result, participants receive a nominal amount (literally $1) to help pay their utility bills. Then, they’re able to deduct the maximum amount of their utility costs from their net income, which in turn increases the amount of food stamps for which they qualify. (PDF with more about Heat and Eat here.)

The legislation passed quickly and with unanimous support. Frankly, this was a no-brainer for our City Council: the policy tweaks are all USDA-approved, cost the city virtually nothing, and will draw millions of dollars of additional federal funds into the District.

And it comes on the heels of President Obama’s stimulus plan, which contains the largest increase in federal food stamp assistance in history: increasing SNAP benefits by 18%, for $20 billion total over the next five years. Altogether, it's been estimated that the compounding boosts will bring an additional $15 to 20 million of food stamps to DC.

Recovery-wise, that’s all gravy: food stamps are reportedly the most effective form of economic stimulus, generating $1.73 of economic activity for every $1 of food stamp. That means this food stamp expansion will bring about $26 to $34 million of additional economic activity for DC, helping to prime it for a swifter overall recovery.

To say nothing of the thousands of struggling families that these will help. But, of course, attaining true community food security will require real investment on behalf of local government. We know it’s worth it – we just need to make the Powers That Be know it, too.

Along the way, it’s important to think creatively – even if that sometimes means incrementally. So what’s the next step? You tell me. (Seriously, please tell me. Here’s some places to start looking.)

NB: Bread for the City lobbied for this bill, but true credit should go to DC Hunger Solutions for proposing and persisting on the legislation. You can follow our continuing coverage of food security in DC at Beyond Bread.