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
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