The American Dream is the promise that no matter where you start you have a chance to build a better life for yourself and your kids. It’s a promise that through hard work you will be able to build a future for your kids.
But today, 1 in 5 kids in America are living with hunger. How can parents think about opportunity if they are skipping meals and making impossible choices between paying for rent or food?
SNAP Recipients Are Your Neighbors
Things are tough in America right now. The vast majority of SNAP participants who can work, do work. They are parents working two jobs and still not having enough to cover the expensive cost of living. Among them are veterans, people with college degrees and people living with disabilities. They are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Here are a few stories from people who are just like you.
Take the story of Sierra, a mom in Clearfield County in Pennsylvania, who dreams of raising animals and a garden and living off the land. She has two kids, an 8-year-old girl and a 5 year-old boy who love Pokemon Go, playing outside and also animals. Sierra and her husband have always believed in the values of entrepreneurship and family, but things became difficult when their radio sales business slowed down last fall. Bills started piling up, and it became difficult to put food on the table and celebrate Christmas with their kids.
“If it wasn't for SNAP, we probably wouldn't have had food,” shared Sierra. “We probably would have been very hungry or had to rely on food banks, which are already overcrowded. It has made a huge impact on families like ours.“ Sierra and her husband are working hard to pay off their debt and continue the path towards their dream.
Because of the increase in food prices, Daisy, a mom in Louisiana, has had to pick up two jobs and even run a small craft business just to make ends meet. Her two children have said that they miss her because she is always at work, but she knows it’s a sacrifice worth making so they can have a better future. SNAP has provided some temporary relief, so Daisy can afford healthy meals and can afford the yearly tradition of driving to the beach.
“I advocate for dropping the stigma of food assistance,” Daisy explained. “I’ve paid into this program all of my life. I unfortunately need to reap the benefits from it now, and I am. And that’s the only thing keeping my family afloat.”
The Cost of Arbitrary Cuts
Stories like these are very common. We interviewed over a dozen families who shared their struggles and dreams. Patrick in Ohio had to restart his career after developing arthritis. Mia in Louisiana holds a master’s degree and never thought she’d participate in SNAP, but her child was born with expensive medical needs. Darrisha in North Carolina is also raising a child with disabilities. Jennifer in California is going to school to make a better life for herself and SNAP is helping her navigate all the expenses while she is earning her degree.
These are families building after layoffs, recovering from accidents and working hard to improve their lives.
Sadly, even as prices continue to rise across the board, Congress is planning massive cuts to SNAP. Some argue that the program is fraught with fraud and makes people dependent. But evidence shows that this is not true. Reports of waste and fraud are typically the result of clerical errors on program administrators’ behalf; in 2019, only 0.1% of SNAP overpayments were the result of intentional violations. Read more.
Most people who are on SNAP and are able to work have at least one member of their family working (read more on SNAP and work requirements). The vast majority of people receive SNAP for a short period of time while they rebuild their lives through tough times. Over a quarter of participants leave the program in the first four months and more than half leave it within the year.
We should continue addressing the limited amount of abuse of SNAP, but an arbitrary massive cut will not solve the problem and will hurt millions of kids and families, threatening the promise of the American Dream. As the stories we explored showed, SNAP helps people work and is a stepping stone to stability. It also boosts local economies supporting grocery stores, farmers markets and small businesses. And let’s be honest – none of us know when we will need help; a job loss, an illness or unexpected expense can happen to anybody. SNAP is there when it does.
SNAP Helps Make America Healthy
Doctors know how crucial proper nutrition is for growing kids. Dr. Essel, a pediatrician in DC, spoke about how lack of nutrients can create toxic stress and have long-term consequences for physical and cognitive development.
"Kids are vulnerable; they're sensitive. You want to create a good environment to help them thrive. Just to say that they're resilient is not okay," he explained, adding, "We know that these [SNAP] programs are quite effective. They improve the overall health of families.”
Less nutritious foods are often cheaper in the supermarket, and when families are struggling, they may be forced to get a less nutritious but more filling option. SNAP helps parents have more control over what meals they get at the store. And several states have programs like Double Up Bucks that allow families to double the value of their benefits when they use them in farmers markets.
Sierra explained that SNAP has allowed her to cook more from scratch and create delicious healthy home-cooked snacks. Daisy talked about how her daughter loves filling up on strawberries, something they could not afford without the SNAP benefits. Darrisha, who is raising a young boy who is deaf and blind, loves taking her son to the supermarket. It’s his favorite thing to do. He loves smelling and feeling the fruits and veggies that now they can take home and eat.
A Call to Support for SNAP
Let’s remind Congress that SNAP isn’t a burden; it’s a lifeline for families with bipartisan roots and longstanding public support. When we invest in kids and families, we invest in a stronger, healthier nation. These children are no different from your own, and they deserve every chance to grow, learn and thrive. Our voice is strong and right now millions of kids need us.
