University members discuss proposal to decrease SNAP

By: Gerard Albert/Contributing Writer

 

The proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will affect approximately 16.4 million households. That is, if Congress passes President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2019 budget.

Currently, SNAP recipients are given an EBT card preloaded with money that can be used to buy food, but not liquor, cigarettes or other non-food items at participating grocery stores. The average SNAP household receives $249 in monthly benefits according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The proposed changes would decrease the money on these cards, which is decided by household size and income, and instead provide a “USDA Foods package.” Included in the package; milk, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, beans, canned fruits, vegetables and canned meats.

These changes are a return to the past, according to Professor Paul Stuart in the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. A similar program existed before SNAP, boxes of surplus food were distributed to the poor, this program led to many issues said Stuart.

“As a society we argue people should make their own choices, that is a virtue of American society, but maybe not if you are poor…On the surface it seems like a violation of the American principle of free choice,” said Stuart.

A mix of personal ethics and dietary restrictions is what led junior Erika Castro to choose a vegetarian diet. A choice, Castro fears she would no longer have if she received SNAP benefits. Although she qualifies for SNAP she refuses to join because of the possible restrictions. “There is no way I would be able to maintain a vegetarian diet and still get the necessary nutrition if I received pre-packaged food,” said Castro.  

According to the Department of Agriculture, the food boxes would promote a healthier diet while providing nutrients. Stuart, who remembers the program before SNAP, said that there was no guarantee recipients would actually consume the food they received. There was a market for these foods, he said, because most people receiving these benefits cared more about money than nutrition.

The government has not yet said how these boxes would be distributed, but assuming the administration follows in the footsteps of the past, there will be centralized local pick up locations.

For Florencia Simonassi, a freshman whose aunt receives SNAP benefits, this raises another concern. Her aunt lives alone in a suburb outside of Chicago, she has no car and due to medical issues cannot walk for extended periods of time. She relies on a community bus that takes her to and from the grocery store once a week. Simonassi fears that her aunt would have no way of picking up her food box and would be left with only the small amount left on her EBT card.

As for the probability that the budget will get approved, Stuart and others are doubtful. Congress and the president have already agreed on a two-year budget proposal that did not include the proposed SNAP changes.

“If Congress enacted it, I don’t think it would be done well,” Stuart said citing the government’s problem implementing new programs. “I think it would be a nightmare and I don’t think it would improve people’s nutrition.”

FIU students that need supplemental food are encouraged to visit the student food pantry located in DM 166 at MMC and WUC 307 at BBC. No proof of need is required, only a valid Panther ID, according to Joanna Garcia the associate director of the Center for Leadership and Service.

 

Featured Image courtesy of Flickr.

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