S.N.A.P.
Georgia’s State Nutrition Assistance Program
Fact Sheet
The Georgia General Assembly established Georgia’s State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 1998. Last fiscal year the Department of Human Resources provided $6 million in federal dollars for this program as a TANF expenditure. During state FY 2007, the Georgia Food Bank Association distributed more than 6.8 million pounds of food at an average per pound cost of $0.70. This food was distributed as groceries to 325,905 families or served over 2 million hot meals. Food banks assist Georgia by providing required TANF maintenance of effort funds.
Distribution of these foods is limited to parents and their children who are TANF clients, transitioning from welfare to work, or who are considered “at-risk” for TANF enrollment. DHR contracts with the food banks to provide this needed service. Goals for the program are:
· Provide a nutritional safety net to relieve situations of hunger, poor nutrition, and short-term food shortages for needy Georgians. SNAP increasingly serves as a support for low-wage employees who have faced job and/or wage cutbacks during the past year.
· Purchase as many Georgia agricultural and food products for distribution as possible, thereby supporting Georgia businesses and farmers.
· Secure a $6 million dollar TANF expenditure item within the Department of Human Resources budget.
Georgia Food Bank Association
There are eight food banks in the state, which collectively serve all 159 counties with SNAP foods. These food banks reside in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta. The SNAP funds are distributed across the state based on the poverty levels in the area. Food banks are well equipped with warehousing equipment and space as well as trucking capabilities. All are inspected for safe food handling practices by county and state health departments, USDA, Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) and donor corporations.
Continuing Need
Hunger and food insecurity are byproducts of poverty. Results from the U.S. Census show the persistent nature of poverty in our state: 14.7% of all Georgians and 20.2% of our children live in poverty. The poverty rate in our counties ranges between a low of 4% in Fayette and Columbia Counties to a high of 31% in Clarke County. Declining wages, high housing costs, plant closings and lay-offs have left thousands of Georgia families with greater financial burdens. Regulations limiting access to public benefit programs are causing these Georgians to turn for help more frequently to the nonprofit and faith-based organizations in their communities. These organizations are the distribution points for SNAP foods.
Proposal for FY 2009 Georgia State Budget
SNAP should be funded at the $6 million level as part of DHR’s budget plans for TANF expenditures. Georgia’s SNAP project has become a model for other states and has been hailed by HHS as a logical, much needed use of TANF funds.
Distribution of these foods is limited to parents and their children who are TANF clients, transitioning from welfare to work, or who are considered “at-risk” for TANF enrollment. DHR contracts with the food banks to provide this needed service. Goals for the program are:
· Provide a nutritional safety net to relieve situations of hunger, poor nutrition, and short-term food shortages for needy Georgians. SNAP increasingly serves as a support for low-wage employees who have faced job and/or wage cutbacks during the past year.
· Purchase as many Georgia agricultural and food products for distribution as possible, thereby supporting Georgia businesses and farmers.
· Secure a $6 million dollar TANF expenditure item within the Department of Human Resources budget.
Georgia Food Bank Association
There are eight food banks in the state, which collectively serve all 159 counties with SNAP foods. These food banks reside in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta. The SNAP funds are distributed across the state based on the poverty levels in the area. Food banks are well equipped with warehousing equipment and space as well as trucking capabilities. All are inspected for safe food handling practices by county and state health departments, USDA, Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) and donor corporations.
Continuing Need
Hunger and food insecurity are byproducts of poverty. Results from the U.S. Census show the persistent nature of poverty in our state: 14.7% of all Georgians and 20.2% of our children live in poverty. The poverty rate in our counties ranges between a low of 4% in Fayette and Columbia Counties to a high of 31% in Clarke County. Declining wages, high housing costs, plant closings and lay-offs have left thousands of Georgia families with greater financial burdens. Regulations limiting access to public benefit programs are causing these Georgians to turn for help more frequently to the nonprofit and faith-based organizations in their communities. These organizations are the distribution points for SNAP foods.
Proposal for FY 2009 Georgia State Budget
SNAP should be funded at the $6 million level as part of DHR’s budget plans for TANF expenditures. Georgia’s SNAP project has become a model for other states and has been hailed by HHS as a logical, much needed use of TANF funds.
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