The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was fully restored last month after a 43-day federal government shutdown that temporarily halted benefits for millions of Americans, straining food banks and shelters nationwide. As households continue to recover from the disruption, a new federal rule expanding work requirements for SNAP recipients is expected to reduce the number of monthly SNAP recipients by about 2.4 million people over the next decade.
SNAP, sometimes known as food stamps and called CalFresh in California, provides monthly funds on a debit card that can only be used at approved grocery stores to purchase “cold” or unprepared foods and ingredients meant for home-cooked meals. Even with these restrictions, SNAP benefits rarely last an entire month, leaving many recipients reliant on local food kitchens and shelters as well.
As one of the few programs proven to reduce poverty and food insecurity, SNAP should be expanded to reach more people, not morphed into a system that punishes people for circumstances that are beyond their control. The Campanile thinks the federal government should reverse SNAP’s new, tougher work requirements and expand the funding for SNAP so every American can have enough to eat.
The new 80 hour per month work requirement dramatically narrows the number of people eligible to this program. Officials have warned hundreds of thousands nationwide could lose SNAP benefits over the next year, not because they’re abusing the system, but because they live with disabilities, juggle unpredictable schedules or care for children and aging parents. Thirty-nine percent of all SNAP recipients are kids; kids who are born into situations out of their control and who deserve to have access to food.
These requirements also harm the unhoused community, who often have a harder time retaining or preparing for jobs –– and this lack of extra food support only propels this cycle. It’s unfair to harm individuals who –– through unavoidable circumstances –– find themself in a situation where work is unrealistic.
As more people lose SNAP benefits, this also places a burden on food kitchens and shelters. During the recent government shutdown, many community organizations that provide food were overwhelmed, even as community members stepped up with donations and volunteer efforts. While this response reflects the strong local support of our community, it also reveals a hard truth. Charities cannot replace a national safety net, and hunger is not a problem communities should be left to solve on their own.
Local data reveals the extent of the consequences. In Santa Clara County, more than 133,000 residents rely on SNAP for basic groceries. Cutting these benefits only increases pressure on these groups and widens inequities we already see in our regions. Expecting charities to absorb the impact of federal cuts is neither realistic nor fair.
Critics of SNAP often argue the program discourages initiative and traps people in cycles of poverty. Others claim it as a waste of tax dollars. But research shows the average American contributes only $36 per year to SNAP, while every dollar invested generates $1.79 in economic activity. Cutting these benefits removes money from local economies, forces families to rely on emergency services and only exacerbates long-term inequities. Relying on SNAP benefits is not a luxurious life, and punishing people for circumstances beyond their control does not end poverty. It keeps the cycle going.
SNAP is not perfect, and we do think aspects of it should be improved. The process of obtaining SNAP benefits should be streamlined, and benefits should better reflect the true cost of living. But making the program harder to access does not encourage independence; it denies assistance to people who need it most. The Campanile thinks these new restrictions will only widen the socioeconomic gaps that already divide communities nationwide.
The measure of how well a society works is ultimately how it treats its most vulnerable. The Campanile thinks food security is not a privilege to be earned; it is a basic human right. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and at the very least, our government should be able to ensure that its people have enough to eat.