One in Nine Americans on Food Stamps

By Christine White

The numbers are in, and the reality is harsh. According to a recent USDA report, one in nine Americans are using federal food stamps. This bleak statistic reflects the intensifying food crisis that plagues our nation. In March 2009, enrollment jumped 2 percent to 33.2 million people. And in the wake of a deep recession and high unemployment, the numbers will continue to grow. In a privileged nation of plenty, threatened by a chronic obesity epidemic, how is it that millions are going without?

For decades, the government’s anti-hunger program, recently renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAPS), has assisted low-income people and families in buying the food they need. Just last year, the 2008 Farm Bill pledged more than $10 billion over the next 10 years to federal food assistance programs. As recent numbers show, pouring millions of dollars into a program that has been criticized as sluggish and inaccessible does not fundamentally change our backwards food system. Despite the program’s recent focus on nutrition and its push to make healthy foods more accessible, we need a different approach.

Food stamps have turned into a crutch, or a “first line of defense” against hunger, says advocate Bill Ayres. There are so many families in the U.S. alone that cannot afford adequate food, and we need progressive reforms that face this issue head on and address the root causes of hunger: rising unemployment, health care costs, and costs of living paired with stagnant wages. But in the meantime, food stamps remain an important safety net.

With the reality of nationwide food insecurity setting in, the call for local food systems is stronger than ever. And in some ways, it’s being heard. In an effort to engage in a “localized” solution, a growing number of farmer’s markets nationwide are now accepting food stamps. This season, the Market Square Farmers’ Market in downtown Knoxville is accepting stamps and working to expand its customer base. Markets in Austin, Texas have been doing this for the past three years. These efforts provide fresh, healthy food to families of all incomes while supporting local economies and food producers. As always, we need a stronger commitment to local-food solutions and the kinds of programs that will benefit all.