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Fun with Food:Stretching Your Food Dollars
Ryan Johnson & Ross Safford
Job Loss Professionals: New Tools for New TimesSeptember 21, 2010
Food Support = SNAP
Sources: DHS, Hunger Solutions Minnesota, USDA
• Eligibility = 130% of FPG or $28,665 for a family of four
• Average monthly grant = $212/household
• $368/month for families
• $78/month for seniors
• $318 million in Federal funds to MN (2008)
• Only 54% of eligible Minnesotans participate
• Blue Earth = 29%
• Beltrami = 82%
• Full participation could bring an additional $394 million dollars to MN
Food Support BenefitsFor State and Local Communities• By increasing the number of people on Food Support, communities
bring in more Federal money• Local businesses benefit when Food Support dollars are spent in
grocery stores• Every $5 in new Food Support benefits generates $9.20 in total
community spending• Nationwide, retail food demand by Food Support recipients generates
3,300 farm jobs
“Extending food stamps are the most effective ways to prime the
economy's pump. A $1 increase in food stamp payments boosts GDP by $1.73.”- Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com
Source: USDA
Food Support Benefits
Source: USDA
For Low-Income Workers
• Families receiving Food Support spend more money on food than other low-income households.
• Every additional dollar’s worth of Food Support generates 17 - 47 cents of new spending on food.
• Employees whose food needs are met at home have higher productivity and take fewer sick days for themselves and their children.
• Participants become financially stable as they transition to self sufficiency.
• Half of all new participants leave the program within nine months.
Recent Food Support Changes• Combined Application Form simplified – 2008 (more changes coming
soon)• Benefits available on EBT card up to 1 year• 6 month reporting – March 1, 2009• Benefits increased by 13.6% ($16 minimum) – April 1, 2009• Telephone interviews for eligibility and recertification – October 15, 2009• No time limit or work requirements for Able Bodied Adults Without
Dependents (ABAWDs) – extended to September 30, 2011• No asset test – November 1, 2010• Eligibility increased to 165% FPG ($36,383 for a family of 4) – November
1, 2010• Online application – March 2011
Sources: DHS, Hunger Solutions Minnesota
MN Food Support Characteristics
Source: DHS
• From 12/08-12/09, overall participation increased by 30%• Other Adult Households (ABAWDs) increased by 105%
• Family Households increased by 37%
• Senior Households increased by 8%
• Disabled Households increased by 12%
• 60% of Other Adult Households had no income• Majority of Other Adult Households were young men in their 20’s
• Other Adult Households were disproportionately black
• 30% compared to 24% of all Food Support adults
Source: DHS
Source: DHS
• 36% = Family Households
• 27% = Disabled Households
• 23% = Other Adult Households
• 15% = Seniors Households
MN Food Support Demographics
Source: DHS
• 57% female
• 67% had at least a H.S. diploma or GED
• 22% between 30-39 (highest for any age range)
• 60% White
• 24% Black (4% of all MN adults)
• 7% Asian
• 5% American Indian
• 4% Hispanic
• 91% U.S. Citizens
Economic Characteristics
Source: DHS
• 19% of all households had no income
• 58% of Family Households were working ($1,178/month)
• 64% reported unearned income ($732/month)
• Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, etc.
• Average of 36 months on Food Support
• 28 months for Family Households
• 14 months for Other Adults
Food Support Outreach• 20 community organizations (CAPs and hunger
relief agencies) that provide information and application assistance to Food Support-eligible clients
• Local agencies cover 56 counties
• Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) covers the entire state
• Bridge to Benefits (bridgetobenefits.org) can help people find out if they are eligible and lists the FSO agencies
• More local agencies coming on board in October, 2010
What is Simply Good Eating?
Simply Good Eating is FREE nutrition education for Food Support-eligible clients.
• Teaches the importance of a quality diet• Helps people purchase healthy foods within a limited budget• Teaches how to prepare healthy meals with quick and easy recipes• Encourages a physically active lifestyle• Uses science-based, behaviorally-focused curriculum• U of M Extension and Minnesota Chippewa Tribe nutrition educators deliver the
programming
Consistent nutrition education messages need to be communicated through multiple channels that reach people where they live, work, learn and play.
Why is nutrition education important?
• Low-income households have a higher prevalence of health conditions related to poor nutrition than higher income households– Obesity rates have increased the most among the lowest income levels– Low-income women are 50% more likely to be obese than women with higher
incomes– Children of overweight mothers are more likely to be overweight by age 6 than other
children
• Obesity puts people at a greater risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and some cancers
• With good nutrition, seniors stay in their homes longer and have lower medical bills
• Well nourished children have better school attendance and are more focused on learning
Sources: USDA, CDC-National Center for Health Statistics
Partnering with Extension• Nutrition Educators are located in every
county:– http://www.extension.umn.edu/Nutrition/contact.html– 612-625-7070
• Programming is offered in a variety of settings:– Food shelves– WIC clinics– Senior citizen centers– Child care centers– Low-income housing– Shelters– Grocery stores
Key Partners• Area Agencies on Aging• Association of Minnesota Counties• Community Action Agencies• County Extension Committees• County Human Service Directors• County Public Health Departments• Food Support Outreach Grantees• Head Start Agencies• Hunger Relief Organizations (food shelves, food banks, meal programs)• Minnesota Association of Financial Assistance Supervisors• Minnesota Chippewa Tribe• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development/WorkForce• Minnesota Fathers and Families Network• Minnesota Financial Fitness Network
Simply Good Eating:Cooking for Health and Stretching Food Dollars
Ross Safford
Job Loss Professionals: New Tools for New TimesSeptember 21, 2010
Fast Food?
Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and of Circe, and of Calypso, of Helen and of the queen of Sheba. It means knowledge of all herbs, and fruits, and balms and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and savory in meats. It means carefulness and inventiveness and readiness… It means the economy of your grandmother and great-grandmother and the science of modern chemist; it means much testing and no wasting; it means (English) thoroughness, (French) art, and (Arabian) hospitality. It means, in fine, that your are to see always, that everyone has something nice to eat.
– John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)
