FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS OVERVIEW

Diane Dickerson, Director of Emergency Food Resources with Project Bread spoke at the May Community Resource Center Information Session. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (800-645-8333, TTY: 800-377-1292) is a free statewide information and referral service for people facing hunger. FoodSource Hotline counselors refer callers to food resources in their communities as well as provide information about Food Stamps and other nutrition programs. The FoodSource Hotline can help hungry families in 160 languages using a service that links callers with a translator, usually within 30 seconds. Ms. Dickerson reviewed a variety of food and nutrition services in Massachusetts.

Food Banks
Food banks get their food supplies from a complex variety of sources. One source is USDA Surplus Food Distribution. Other contributors include the state, food salvage programs and various community agencies. Generally food banks serve as distribution points for food pantries and other food programs rather than distributing food directly to individuals.

Food Pantries
Food pantries are independent community organizations, often run by churches, that provide food staples to individuals and families in need. The programs set their own eligibility rules, but usually they do not require proof of citizenship. Generally Food Pantries within the city of Boston have scheduled days for food pick-up and may require a referral. Generally outside of Boston, families or individuals can self-refer and make an appointment to pick up food. Usually food pantries provide two to four days’ worth of food. Some limit the number of times one can receive food to once or twice a month. Many receive funding from Project Bread. (See IRis for local food pantry referrals.)

Soup Kitchens
These are meal sites that have traditionally catered to single adults however some sites are seeing increases in the number of families served. (See IRis for local soup kitchens.)

Elder Programs
There are congregate meal sites in many elder housing complexes in Boston and in some other cities. Many elders who do not live in buildings with a congregate meal program or who are home-bound are eligible for Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels referrals are coordinated through the local Aging Service Access Point.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The WIC Program safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing food vouchers for nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. WIC is not an entitlement program- meaning that one might be eligible but unable to get assistance if funds have been exhausted. The federal government appropriates funds and they are available until they run out. Massachusetts however supplements these funds so that, so far, no one who is eligible will be turned away. There is about an 85% participation rate in Massachusetts.

WIC Population
The WIC target population are low-income, nutritionally at risk:

• Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
• Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday) 
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
• Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
• Children up to their 5th birthday.

They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional.

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants' gross income (i.e. before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.

WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines (effective 7/1/06 - 6/30/07) Annual Monthly Weekly Family of 2 $24, 420 $2,035 $470 Family of 3 30,710 2,560 591 Family of 4 37,000 3,084 712

-From: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FAQs/FAQ.HTM

Childhood Nutrition Programs

• School lunch and Breakfast This federal program offers free or reduced cost school lunch for those who are income eligible. Many schools also offer school breakfast. Parents may be unaware that this is available. In areas with a high percentage of eligible families, schools may offer a universal free breakfast as a way to eliminate the stigma of coming to school early for breakfast.
• Summer Food Program When school is not in session, kids who participate in the school lunch/breakfast programs are at risk for hunger. The Summer food program allows day camps and recreational sites to provide lunch during these months. “Open” sites will serve all children under 18 (no ID required), “closed” sites only serve those enrolled in their programming. Unfortunately, by regulation, the Summer Food Program cannot serve anyone over 18, including accompanying parents.

Food Stamps
Food Stamps is a nutrition program that serves all ages by assisting in the cost of purchasing food. This is an entitlement program- all who are eligible are guaranteed a benefit.

Food Stamps Eligibility
Food stamps eligibility is based on a complex formula that factors in family size, income and expenses. Project Bread provides an online Food Stamps calculator that can offer a guide for eligibility and a rough estimate of expected benefits. See www.gettingfoodstamps.org. People can also call the FoodSource Hotline to speak to a counselor.

Since Food Stamps is a federal program, there are strict rules for immigrant eligibility. However, an undocumented immigrant can apply for his/her citizen child or other family member. There is a financial penalty for the undocumented immigrant- the undocumented person(s) do not receive a benefit, but their income is counted. The USDA has clearly stated that if an applicant is unable or unwilling to provide citizenship verification or a social security number workers are not to further question on the matter and will not report to Homeland Security unless shown an order of deportation. See the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance brochure “What Noncitizens Need to Know” at http://www.gettingfoodstamps.org/non-citizenresourcesheetenglish.pdf .

Food Stamps Application Process
The first step to apply for food stamps is to submit an application. It can be downloaded at http://www.gettingfoodstamps.org/fsapp.htm or there are a number of community agencies that can help clients submit the application online (see http://www.gettingfoodstamps.org/appassistancesites.htm). Subsequent steps include verification of income and expenses and an interview which may be in person or on the phone. Applicants have 30 days to submit the required verifications. If the applicant misses this deadline, but can submit verifications within the following 30 days the application can be reopened without needing to submit another form.

Food Stamps Benefits
The amount of one’s food stamp benefit is determined by subtracting the amount that the individual is expected to contribute to food from the maximum Food Stamps benefit. The applicant’s Food Stamps benefit would be the difference (Maximum FS benefit – Individual/family contribution = Food stamps benefit). The average household benefit (in Massachusetts is $155 a month.

Some expenses can be deducted from countable income to potentially increase the amount of one’s benefit.

Permitted deductions include:

• Shelter costs
• Utilities
• Child care or Adult Dependent Care expenses
• Child support payments
• Medical expenses for those who are at least 60 years old orare “certified” disabled (meaning they receive SSI or SSDI). See attached “Know Your Rights” Q&A from www.masslegalservices.org, “Medical Deductions and Food Stamps for People over 59 and the Disabled”.

Members are given an electronic account, and a plastic debit card called the Mass EBT card. Monthly benefits are deposited into the account and then the member can use the EBT card at grocery stores, convenience stores, markets, and co-ops, as if using a bankcard.

Emergency Food Stamps
Eligibility for Emergency Food Stamps (also called Expedited Food Stamps) requires that the applicant’s:

• gross monthly income plus any cash on hand or in the bank is less than her rent plus utilities OR
• gross monthly income is less than $150 and any cash on hand or in the bank is less than $100 OR
• earned income is from migrant or seasonal farm work and any cash on hand or in the bank is less than $100.

If the applicant qualifies for Emergency Food Stamps, DTA must give food stamps no later than seven days after they receive the application. Emergency food stamps are given for one month only. To continue to receive benefits, one must complete the application process for regular food stamps.

Participation
Massachusetts historically has had a low participation rate- many who are eligible do not apply. Typically the state falls in the bottom three of the 50 states, with about 50% participation. One effort to address this has been the Bay State CAP program which, for certain individuals, simplifies the Food Stamp application process and combines it with the SSI application. DTA is exploring other initiatives to increase food stamp participation,

Low Cost Food Programs

• Serve New England is a non-profit food cooperative program with no income or other restrictions. In exchange for two hours of volunteer service a month members can purchase a monthly food package at substantially reduced prices. Volunteer service need not be directly with Serve New England- it might include working for any civic or community organization or more informal arrangements such as helping a neighbor with childcare or cooking for an elder. To find a local chapter or for more information call 800-742-7363 or www.servenewengland.org.

• Fair Foods Dollar-a-Bag The “Dollar-a-Bag Donation Program” operates a “food rescue” program through a network of some 200 volunteers weekly in over 50 “Dollar-a-Bag” food distribution sites in churches, schools, and senior housing complexes. For a suggested donation of one dollar, a family receives about 15 pounds of groceries. See the Boston area schedule at http://www.fairfoods.org/docs/DollarBag_1.pdf, or call the FoodSource Hotline, but be prepared that the schedule is not always 100% reliable. How Dollar-a-Bag Works: people bring their own bags and then get either: a variety pack of produce, five loaves of bread, two boxes of sweets, or specialty foods for just one dollar. NO ID required

• Farmer’s Market Coupons These coupons are available to elders from their local Council on Aging and to WIC members from their WIC counselor. They can be used like cash and are accepted at most farmers' markets.

• Brown Bag Program This program can provide groceries to elders. Food is usually provided from the local food bank and the Council on Aging provides space and volunteers to assemble the bags. Usually this is a monthly program. Some programs provide delivery for a nominal fee. For some participants, this program has a side social benefit; they can check-in with friends when picking up their bag of food.

-Thanks to Diane Dickerson for her informative presentation and assistance with this article.

5/07