SNAP Benefit Increase Will Reduce Hunger
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today welcomed the Biden administration’s announcement that it would permanently increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as food stamps) benefits. Average benefit will rise more than 25 percent from pre-pandemic levels beginning in October. All 42 million participants in the SNAP program will receive the additional assistance.
The increase is a result of a reexamination of the mathematical model used to calculate SNAP benefits mandated by the 2018 bipartisan Farm Bill, and from an executive order issued by President Biden in January. The Biden administration asked the USDA to revise the Thrifty Food Plan to better reflect the modern cost of a healthy diet. A USDA study published earlier this summer found that nearly nine out of 10 SNAP participants reported facing difficulty achieving a healthy diet, with the most common issue being the cost of healthy foods.
“Bread for the World thanks the Biden administration for boosting SNAP benefits to better reflect the needs of families. More than three-quarters of families use up their benefits in the first half of the month. As a Christian organization committed to the flourishing of all, God calls on us to help our neighbors who are struggling and experience hunger, and this increase will help millions of families get more food and the healthier nutrition they need.”
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
FAQ: Hunger Crisis in Afghanistan
Afghanistan would be considered likely to have high rates of hunger because at least two of the major causes of global hunger affect it—armed conflict and fragile governmental institutions.
Global Malnutrition Fact Sheet 2021
Malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under 5. Every year, the world loses hundreds of thousands of young children and babies to hunger-related causes.
MEMO ON THE HIGH RETURNS OF INVESTING IN A 1,000 DAYS INFRASTRUCTURE
Bread for the World is calling on the Biden-Harris administration and Congress to build a better 1,000-Days infrastructure in the United States.
For Faith
Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional
Devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Faith Leaders' Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.