LAUREN CUMMINGS&

JESSICA BOLL

Family Services:Food Assistance

Family Food Facts

In 2008, nearly 15% of Bellingham residents visited the Food Bank at least once

2009 average WIC monthly benefit per person: $43.12

WA WIC Program total 2009 food cost $100,061,356In 2009, 31,330,000 children participated in the

National School Lunch Program, 52.5% of which were free and 10% were reduced-price lunches

The average monthly benefit from Basic Food received by families in Feb 2009 was $216

Average annual US food expenditure per family unit: $6,133

General Eligibility/Funding

Eligibility really depends on the serviceMeans-testedFor federal programs, the family’s income

and expenses are usually taken into account (Crimando & Riggar, 2005).

Social Services Block Grant (Title XX)- Major federal fund

Emergency Food and Shelter Grants to local social service organizations through FEMA

Food Assistance

We will go through some of the services available to families in Whatcom County that help them with food, then explain how you are eligible for the services, and finally what laws or policies (if any) affect the service

What does the food bank do?

Provides many kinds of food to those in Bellingham who need it

Milk, frozen meat, cheese, non-perishable goods etc.

Educates community on hunger issues To get those who can to donate To help those who need food be aware of services that

are available to them

Food Bank: Eligibility

Any family or individual can receive foodMust be a Bellingham resident35% of Food Bank clients are children, 15%

are seniors/older adults

Food Bank: Policies and Funding

Non-profitFunded by cash donations and food donations4 paid staff, 150 volunteers run the food bankFederal Emergency Management Agency

provides a small amount of funding to some area food banks

Catholic Community Services

Affordable HousingCommunity ClassesPrivate Pay CounselingFamily Preservation Services

Hope House

Hope House

24 hour immediate emergency food supplies When the food bank is closed When you are waiting for paperwork to go through to obtain

public assistance (disability, welfare, etc.)Also provides clothing and other household items and

things not covered by food stamps59 social service agencies provide vouchers that

enable you to shop for free hereOutreaches to homeless and people on the street once

a week, passing out sack lunches and small personal items

Relies on donations- one such donor is HaggenUnited Way provides a small grant

What does TANF do?

Ensures that families have money for bills, food, shelter, and other necessities

Gives clients a monthly cash benefitJob training and assistance

WorkFirst program Training and education for those out of work

TANF: Eligibility

Residents who are responsible for children, or who are pregnant

Family must have $1,000 or less in resourcesApplicants must be able to prove both

citizenship and identityOnce in program, may be required to

participate in programs such as WorkFirst

TANF: Policies and Funding

Those ineligible include felons, and people previously convicted of unlawful gaining of public assistance money

Can be limited to 60 months of benefit in a lifetime for an individual

Funding comes from federal TANF funds and state funds

WIC: What is it?

Provides supplemental food to Women, Infants, and Children

Gives nutritional screening and nutrition counseling to mothers, infants, and children under 5 yrs

Encourages prenatal and pediatric care

WIC, cont.

You receive WIC checks to use only at approved stores to buy healthy foods. The checks tell you which kind of food you can buy with them. List of foods:

Baby food and formula, breakfast cereal, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, juice, milk, canned fish, peanut butter, tofu, whole grains (rice…), tortillas, whole wheat bread

Each client receives separate check of $40-50 each month to buy the type of food they would eat (Mother, Infant, and Child are separate)

WIC: Eligibility

Women- pregnant to breastfeeding, infants up to 1 yr and children up to 5 yrs

Must live in state appliedIncome- 185% or less of poverty levelAutomatically eligible if already in certain other

programs, like Medicaid or TANFNutrition Risk- have a dietary or medical

condition (ex: poor diet or anemia)20% of eligible women and infants not coveredEven illegal immigrants eligible (Mandell &

Schram)

Diversion Cash Assistance

For families with need who do not foresee needing TANF in the coming year

Same income/resource eligibility requirements as TANF

Eligible for 30 day period each yearMaximum benefit is $1,500

What does the Basic Food Program do?

Gives money to families and individuals to help pay for food

Those receiving get EBT cards for stores and farmers markets, and also enrollment in free meal programs for school-age children

Provides better nutrition

Washington Basic Food Program:Eligibility

Residents of Washington stateNo asset limitationsQualify based on income

Ex: 1 person must have a gross monthly income at or below $1,174 monthly, with $903 net income

Washington Basic Food Program:Policies and Funding

Federal policies regulating food programs are from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the US department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

FNS funds federal food programsThe Washington State Federal fund provides

money and benefits go to some immigrants who do not meet some federal qualifications

Hot Meals

Many places in the community to go to receive meals

See list on PamphletMost of these places are faith-based

organizations that run off of volunteer workLighthouse Mission- 3 meals daily

What do free/reduced-price schoolmeals do?

Provides kids with breakfast and lunch when they might otherwise be hungry

Food helps kids to do better in class, and kids who have food are more likely to attend and stay in school

Helps kids to get nutrition they might not receive otherwise

Free/Reduced-Price School Meals:Eligibility

TANF and Basic Food Program participation often allow students to get free/reduced lunches at school

Parents must fill out an applicationHousehold income must be low

Ex: A 3 person household can have no more than a $33,874 yearly or $2,823 monthly income

Free/Reduced-Price School Meals:Policies and Funding

About half of funding comes from federal government reimbursements

Reduced-price meals help to fundLocal and state governments provide a small

amount of fundingStudents who participate must come from

eligible family situations

To Refresh Your Memory

Went over some family food factsFood BankCCS- Hope HouseTANFWICDiversion Cash AssistanceWA Basic Food ProgramWhere to get hot mealsFree/Reduced Price School Meals

References

Catholic Community Services. (n. d.). Catholic community services/ Catholic housing services of Northwest Washington. Retrieved from www.ccsww.org

Crimando, W., & Riggar, T. F. (2005). Community resources: A guide for human service workers. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.

Basic Food. (April 14, 2009). Basic food. Retrieved from http://foodhelp.wa.gov/index.htm

DSHS. (October 28, 2007). Program summary - TANF. Retrieved from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/manuals/eaz/sections/PS_TANF.shtml

Mandell, B. R., & Schram, B. (2009). Introduction to human services: Policy and practice. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

References, cont.

Neuberger Z., & Namian ,T. (January 29, 2010). Who benefits from federal subsidies for free and reduced price school meals? Retrieved from http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3071

United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Program Data. Food and nutrition service. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/Overview.htm

Washington State Department of Health. (2010). Washington State WIC Nutrition Program. Retrieved from http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/WIC/default.htm

Whatcom Anti-Hunger Coalition. (2009). Food and meal resources in whatcom county. Retrieved from http://thelighthousemission.org/images/editor/food%20and%20meal%20resource%20guide.pdf

Xin, M., & Ryan, J. (2010). Does a food for education program affect school outcomes? The Bangladesh case. Journal of Population Economics, 23(2), 415-447. doi:10.1007/s00148-009-0240-0.