Need for Congress to Provide Long-Term Solutions for Food Relief
During our current health and economic crises, hunger has risen to unprecedented levels. According to a recent poll by Hunger Free Colorado, more than 37 percent of Coloradans are struggling to afford food, up from 9 percent a year ago, with families and people of color hit the hardest.
The poll, conducted by Kupersmit Research, a nonpartisan firm based in Denver, surveyed 500 Coloradans across the state to find out how their health and economic security had been impacted by COVID-19. The survey found almost 40 percent of households reporting a drop in income since the start of the pandemic, leading to concerns about meeting basic expenses like food and housing.
These findings come as Congress is debating nutrition provisions within a new federal relief bill, including a 15 percent increase in benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. During the pandemic, emergency allotments have increased SNAP benefits for some families, but these could soon expire.
“SNAP has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms available both to reach low-income households and to provide counter-cyclical help in recessions. SNAP provides recipients funds to purchase food at our local grocery stores, helping families get needed nutrition while also providing an economic boost,” said Marc Jacobson, CEO for Hunger Free Colorado, a leading anti-hunger, nonprofit advocacy organization. “Investing in strong federal nutrition programs is an investment in our families and in our communities.”
The situation for parents in Colorado is especially dire. More than half of parents reported being concerned about covering basic expenses in the next few weeks or months, despite being okay prior to COVID-19. 40 percent of parents were found to be skipping or cutting back on meals because there wasn’t enough money for food, more than twice the overall finding. Additionally, almost a quarter of parents reported that they also had to cut back on their children’s meals.
“The closure of school districts throughout Colorado meant the loss of free and reduced-price school meals for more than 350,000 students. Studies have shown lack of adequate nutrition in childhood can have long-term impacts on health and well-being long into adulthood,” shared Jacobson. “While the expansion of school and summer meal sites have helped, those will soon be closing unless additional flexibilities are passed at the federal level. Additionally, Pandemic EBT needs to be extended through the school year to help families with children access crucial food resources that are not available due to pandemic-related school closures.”
Based on the available data and firsthand stories from those facing hunger, Hunger Free Colorado is calling on Congress to prioritize food assistance in the current relief package. Thousands of Coloradans have joined Hunger Free Colorado in this call to action through mail, phone calls and emails. Hunger Free Colorado has the following key recommendations:
Key Recommendations:
- Increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent and continue emergency allotments through the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help families afford the food they truly need every month.
- Continue SNAP, WIC, and school meals program flexibilities that ensure staff and families in need can stay safe during the pandemic.
- Extend Pandemic EBT through the school year and provide federal funding for state administrative costs of the program to ensure families continue to have access to school meals while at home.
“This poll reinforces the need to strengthen vital programs that can provide Coloradans with access to nutritious food to weather this pandemic,” stated Jacobson. “Congress should include these recommendations in the current relief bill to ensure those most impacted by COVID-19 have the help they need until our economy recovers.”
View more poll findings and find out more about the issue of hunger in Colorado online at HungerFreeColorado.org.