Local Food Stamp Access Demonstrations

1

• Local Food Stamp Access Demonstrations
• A Public-Private Partnership
• Food Nutrition Service, USDA
• Americas Second Harvest - The Nations Food Bank
  Network
• State/County Agencies Administering the Food
  Stamp Program
• A2H Local Food Banks and Pantries

2
About Americas Second Harvest

• The largest hunger-relief organization in the
  U.S.
• Secures and distributes over two billion pounds
  of food and grocery products annually
• Provides food assistance to over twenty-five
  million low-income hungry people in the United
  States, including more than nine million children
  and nearly three million seniors

3
The Problem of Hunger and Food Insecurity

• In November 2007 USDA released
  Household Food Security in the United States,
  2006. The study found that
• Approximately 35 million people were food
  insecure. At some time during the year, they had
  difficulty providing enough food for all their
  members due to a lack of resources.
• Approximately 10.8 million people had very low
  food security. Food intake of one or more
  household members was reduced and their normal
  eating patterns were disrupted because of food
  insecurity.
• In Vermont approximately 9.6 of households are
  food insecure representing 23,000 households in
  the State households with 21,000 children.

4
The Problem of Hunger and Food Insecurity

• Americas Second Harvest released Hunger in
  America 2006. Concerning recipients of food
  assistance in the Second Harvest network it
  reports that
• 70 are food insecure and 33 experience hunger.
• Among households with children, 73 are food
  insecure and 31 experience hunger.

5
The Problem of Inadequate Food Stamp
Participation

• Also from Hunger in America 2006
• 78.8 of those receiving emergency food from A2H
  food pantries nationwide have income less than
  130 of the Federal Poverty Level however only
  35.9 are receiving Food Stamp Benefits.

6
The Problem of Inadequate Food Stamp
Participation

• According to USDA, of the 38 million individuals
  eligible nationwide for food stamp benefits in an
  average month of 2005, only 65 (25 million)
  participated.
• In Vermont a higher - 68 participate. But
  continual low participation among households with
  elderly and working people continues to be a
  problem.
• In Vermont 54 of eligible working poor
  households participate.
• Of 17 million eligible working poor households,
  only 57 participated.

7
The Problem of Hunger and Food Insecurity

• Federal and State/public sector programs and
  community food assistance/food banks,
  representing private sector functioned together
  as a nutrition safety net for the vast majority
  low income households.
• The primary Federal food assistance program is
  the Food Stamp Program funded at 30 billion
  growing more than 26 million participants. The
  most effective way to address hunger in the U.S.
  is to increase participation in FSP.

8
FSP Enrollment Obstacles

• Why dont people apply?
• They are unaware of the benefits.
• They dont have transportation.
• FS office hours can be restrictive.
• Their work schedule interferes.
• They are afraid of the system.
• Various perceptions/misperceptions

9
FSP Enrollment Obstacles
The Red Tape Divide State-by-State Review of Food
Stamp Applications
This report, released in 2000 by Americas Second
Harvest, revealed that even when people do apply,
organizational and policy barriers often stand in
their way.
10
FSP Enrollment Obstacles
The Red Tape Divide found problems with state
food stamp applications
Application Length Applications are generally
long and burdensome the average FSP application
is 12 pages long. Application Difficulty 49 of
50 state food stamp applications and D.C. contain
certification statements that are written from
the 9th to 12th grade level. Nonessential
Questions 38 states and D.C. ask questions
regarding sources of income that cannot or would
not ordinarily be considered in determining food
stamp benefits eligibility.
11
FSP Enrollment Obstacles

• FSP OUTREACH-
• A recent study in New York City reported that
  almost one half (46) of the clients studied did
  not file food stamp applications even after
  off-site prescreening found they were eligible.
• Almost all of these people, when interviewed,
  said they were interested in enrolling, but
  blamed difficulties with the application process
  for their not beginning or completing the
  process.

12
FSP Enrollment Obstacles

• The same study in New York City found that, of
  people who followed through by filing
  applications but whose applications were denied,
  nearly one half were because of reasons related
  to the application process rather than a
  substantive determination of ineligibility.

13
The Problem of Inadequate Food Stamp
Participation

• Conclusion
• Millions of additional persons and families could
  achieve better nutrition and food security by
  participating in the Food Stamp Program each
  month, but either do not apply or are discouraged
  by the application process.
• Every day, many of those eligible persons and
  families are visiting food pantries throughout
  the U.S. and the numbers accessing emergency
  food are increasing.

14
The Problem of Inadequate Food Stamp
Participation

• The additional benefits to these persons and
  families represent millions of additional Federal
  dollars that could be coming into the state, to
  be spent with local food retailers.
• In Vermont a 5 increase in participation would
  yield nearly 4 million additional benefits.
• The overall economic benefit to the state is 9
  for each 5 in food stamp benefits. (USDA)

15
Improving Access to the Food Stamp Program
The Red Tape Divide made recommendations for steps
Federal policy makers must take to simplify the
Food Stamp Program The 2002 Farm Bill included
several measures to simplify the program. More
remains to be done in the 2007 Farm Bill.
However, USDA now supports state efforts to
improve FSP access, to a greater extent than ever
before.
16
Improving Access to the Food Stamp Program
The Red Tape Divide made Recommendations for
steps
State policy makers should take to
simplify the Food Stamp Program Reduce
caseworker burden Provide off-site access
enrollments Lengthen certification periods Apply
technology to the intake process
17
One Solution

• To address the barriers to food stamp enrollment,
  A2H has proposed public-private partnership
  projects that take the food stamp application
  process to selected local food pantries.
• Using laptops and wireless technology at the
  pantries, the process would provide direct access
  to FSP benefits for an initial period, via
  issuance of the states EBT card on-site, upon
  completion and approval of the application.

18
Local Food Stamp Access Demonstrations Immediate
Access to FSP
Receives EBT Card
Emergency Food Client
Enters Food Pantry
Completes Electronic Application
19
Where are we?

• Express Stamps
• Was approved by FNS for a two year demonstration.
• began on October 23, 2006.
• is in operation at six food pantries in four
  counties in northern Illinois.

20
How Express Stamps Was Developed Contributions
of the Partners

• The Illinois Department of Human Services
• Contracted with CSG for modifications to its
  computer systems to enable transmission of
  application, eligibility, and issuance data from
  the pantry to the agency
• Requested required FNS waivers
• Wrote staff policy to support the Demonstration
• Gathers data for evaluation
• Trained volunteers

21
How Express Stamps Was Developed Contributions
of The Partners

• The Northern Illinois Food Bank
• selected the pantry sites with an emphasis on
  elderly, working poor and rural/sub residents.
• recruited and trained the volunteers to assist
  applicants in the application process
• provides/maintains technology/equipment
• serves as liaison between DHS and project
  participants, and provides day-to-day management
  and oversight.

22
About Northern Illinois Food Bank

• Provides food assistance to 37,400 different
  people each week
• Provided 22 million pounds of food to feed people
  in need in 2006 
• Delivered 80 direct to one of 520 partner
  feeding programs
• Serves 13 counties in Northern Illinois
• Programs include Mobile Pantry, Food Rescue and
  Recovery, Holiday Meal Box, Youth Nutrition
  Programs Kids Café and Backpack Programs.

23
How Express Stamps Was DevelopedContributions
of The Partners

• The selected local food pantries provide
• physical space
• outreach to clients and volunteers
• on-going communication and feedback, and other
  support as appropriate.

24
How Express Stamps Was DevelopedContributions
of The Partners

• The USDA Food and Nutrition Service granted
  the necessary waivers, and provides oversight to
  ensure program compliance.

25
How Express Stamps was DevelopedContributions
of Each Partner

• Examples of USDA waivers granted
• Mandatory Verification
• The applicant must provide verification of
  his/her identity only. The applicants statement
  is accepted for other items that determine
  eligibility and benefit amount.
• Interviews
• The applicant need not be interviewed by the
  state.
• Household Members Meeting Citizenship
  Requirements
• In place of complex Federal rules, applicants are
  considered eligible if they and those for whom
  they are applying are U.S. citizens or legal
  non-citizens.

26
Express Stamps Approvals Denials as of 10/01/07

• Approvals 999 Denials196

27
Successes

• To 10/01/07
• 1195 Applicants
• 999 households approved
• 2266 new FSP participants
• 48 households with earned income
• 12 households with elderly
• Benefit 1st month 117,924
• 2nd month 123,650
• Re-applications at 66

28
Areas for Improvement

• Error Rate
• FNS Review of 154 cases (10/06-3/07)
• 36,409 total benefits to reviewed HH
• 62 incorrect apps errors
• 20 under-reported income
• 33 did not report unearned income
• 8 comp system errors
• 10,707 in incorrect benefit issuance
• Roughly consistent w/ un-reported QC error rate
  for expedited Food Stamps
• Technology Issues
• Conductivity wireless challenges
• Pantry operational hours

29
Where Do We Go From Here?

• We continue to work for Farm Bill language that
  permits more widespread access to FSP for pantry
  clients.
• Opposition to efforts in pending Farm Bill (FSP
  Reauthorization) that would limit outreach or
  express stamps model expansion (House Bill).
• We work with our existing partners to expand
  Express Stamps within Illinois and expand to new
  states (VT?), to gain experience with a larger
  volume of applicant households.

30
Where Do We Go From Here? (contd)

• 3. We work with FNS to address concerns
  about project outcomes, particularly rates of
  reapplication for FSP and errors in benefit
  amounts.
• 4. We continue to approach other regions and
  other states, to attract development of similar
  projects. Other non-profits also interested.

31
Questions Answers