Ending Hunger in America, 2014 Hunger Report Full Report | Page 34

meaning that its income is less than half the poverty level. For a “Children whose families received family of four, this was $11,500 a year or less in 2011, the year for SNAP benefits are less which we have the most consistent data. In 2011, there were 7.2 likely to experience million American children living in deep poverty.35 Research developmental delays shows that children whose families received SNAP benefits are than children in less likely to experience developmental delays than children in families with similar 36 families with similar incomes that did not receive SNAP. incomes that did not The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which gives a finanreceive SNAP.” cial boost to low-income workers, lifts more people out of poverty each year than SNAP. The EITC comes as a tax refund in a lump sum payment and is best suited to paying down debt or making a larger purchase than households living paycheckto-paycheck can afford. SNAP, on the other hand, provides the resources to keep food in the refrigerator day after day. It’s not difficult to imagine improvements to SNAP, starting with benefits that last for the entire month and are enough to enable families to purchase healthy foods rather than cheaper, unhealthy alternatives. Most families who receive SNAP benefits cannot make them last the entire month. In fact, 80 percent of benefits are redeemed within the first two weeks of the month.37 Less expensive, unhealthy foods are the inevitable tradeoff people make to minimize the time at the end of every month when food is running out. Human Capital Development: “Investing in People” As we have pointed out, nutrition programs—the safety net’s center of gravity—are crucial to protecting families from hunger and the poor health often associated with it. They help BOX i.2 WE NEED A SAFETY NET THAT IS STRONG, RESILIENT, AND MORE COMPASSIONATE THAN THE ONE WE HAVE The safety net should exclude no one. People returning to communities after finishing prison sentences are among the most marginalized people in society—and they have one of the highest rates of hunger. In some states, certain categories of ex-offenders face a lifetime ban on eligibility for SNAP and other safety net programs. This harms not only them, but their children and other family members, the communities they return to, and American society at large—because hunger can drive people to desperation, and these policies can lead to recidivism and re-incarceration that would not otherwise have occurred. Returning citizens have paid their debt to society, and they should not be further penalized by discriminatory laws that deny them nutrition assistance. They face significant barriers to getting and keeping jobs. They and others in situations where the odds are against their successful employment could benefit from subsidized jobs programs that enable them to gain work experience, build skills, and improve their long-term employability. 24?Introduction n Bread for the World Institute