Local Food Shelves React to Proposed SNAP Rule Changes
The Trump Administration is proposing to change eligibility rules for food stamps, SNAP. The administration says it would be closing a loophole. A local food shelf says this change may affect them.
Last month alone PRISM had 900 visits to its Golden Valley food shelf. If the proposed rule becomes a reality, PRISM says it will see even more of an increase than it’s already seeing now.
“What this essentially does is increases the burden here locally on communities as public assistance and benefits get altered,” says Michelle Ness, the executive Director of PRISM.
3 Million People Could Lose Food Stamps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 3 million people would no longer qualify for food stamps. The administration says this will help eliminate cases of people taking advantage of the safety net system. PRISM says those cases are very rare.
“I think they are calling this a loophole that they are trying to close because it’s a matter of how the benefits are calculated,” added Ness. “This is a very low income population to begin with this is a group of folks we want to continue working to succeed.”
Ness says taking away food benefits from working families won’t strengthen the economy or the community.
“What we are talking about is a family of four and both parents earning $7.50 an hour,” added Ness. “We are talking about a difference between $7.50 an hour and $7.75 an hour. It’s a very narrow swath of people who are receiving public assistance and would be impacted negatively by this.”
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal.
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