A Few Words About Food Stamps or the SNAP program
Doing the right thing includes everybody. The legislation that began the food stamp program was started as part of legislation in the Department of Agriculture. Food security, as it is now called, has always been the goal of the program. When the program started in the first great depression you could buy $1.00 worth of Orange Stamps and you were given $.50 in blue stamps for which you could surplus foods like beans, flour, eggs, and fresh vegetables. This helped provide a market for farmers. During WWII the surplus food went to the war effort and the unemployment problem stopped. The program was ended.
In 1964 the program was restarted as part of "Great Society Program". Again the farm economy would be helped and low income folks would be able to obtain food more cheaply. The program was funded by the Federal Government but it was administered by the States. The legislation prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or political ideology.
In 1973 there were efforts to expand the program to folks that were left out of the program. More out reach was done and under served populations were targeted.
The program has always been a political football. Some folks believe that recipients don't deserve the food benefits they receive.
"Stigma associated with the SNAP program has led to several common misconceptions about how the program works and who receives the benefits. For instance, many Americans believe that the majority of SNAP benefits go towards people who could be working. In fact, more than half of SNAP recipients are children or the elderly. For the remaining working-age individuals, many of them are currently employed. At least forty percent of all SNAP beneficiaries live in a household with earnings. In fact, the majority of SNAP households do not receive cash welfare benefits (around 10% receive cash welfare), with increasing numbers of SNAP beneficiaries obtaining their primary source of income from employment."
And so it goes.
Most of this information came from the Department of Agriculture.
In 1964 the program was restarted as part of "Great Society Program". Again the farm economy would be helped and low income folks would be able to obtain food more cheaply. The program was funded by the Federal Government but it was administered by the States. The legislation prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or political ideology.
In 1973 there were efforts to expand the program to folks that were left out of the program. More out reach was done and under served populations were targeted.
The program has always been a political football. Some folks believe that recipients don't deserve the food benefits they receive.
"Stigma associated with the SNAP program has led to several common misconceptions about how the program works and who receives the benefits. For instance, many Americans believe that the majority of SNAP benefits go towards people who could be working. In fact, more than half of SNAP recipients are children or the elderly. For the remaining working-age individuals, many of them are currently employed. At least forty percent of all SNAP beneficiaries live in a household with earnings. In fact, the majority of SNAP households do not receive cash welfare benefits (around 10% receive cash welfare), with increasing numbers of SNAP beneficiaries obtaining their primary source of income from employment."
And so it goes.
Most of this information came from the Department of Agriculture.
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