Food Stamps program(SNAP) and the Homeless

Hi All. What I hope to accomplish here is to get the USDA's attention in regard to the Food Stamp program(SNAP) and what they allow or emit from eligible purchases.

The USDA's Food Stamp program or as it is called SNAP, issues food stamp benefits to an extremely large population of homeless all across our country. The USDA knows they are homeless. I would like to make some suggestions to them as far as ineligible food items and request they please make them eligible and will state my reasons why.

Examples of food items you may purchase as copied from the USDA website, http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/Retailers/ELIGIBLE.HTM are:

Foods for the household to eat, such as:
breads and cereals;
fruits and vegetables;
meats, fish and poultry; and
dairy products.
Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals. The State of Tennessee does not allow this at this time per the USDA.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
Any nonfood items, such as:
pet foods;
soaps, paper products; and
household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.
Food that will be eaten in the store.
Hot foods.

Above in RED are the items I am very concerned about and would like to see addressed and considered to be eligible on SNAP. While you may purchase a cake from the bakery for example, you cannot purchase a hot food item.

In reference to the homeless: Homeless do not typically have anywhere to properly, prep, prepare or store perishable food items. Health wise this is a danger as they are unable to properly clean food items, store at a proper cold temperature or heat them to proper temperatures among numerous other dangers such as protection from parasites in preparation and storage of their food. This should actually be a no-brainer. Homeless, just like anyone else, need a nutritious, filling meal to carry them through their days and nights. Yesterday, 11/15/09, I went to the grocery store to get my groceries with my Food Stamp(SNAP) benefits. Yep, for the first time in my life due to this economy I get Food Stamps for the last 6 months. I am 50. I selected my groceries which included a prepared Hot Rotisserie Whole Chicken for $7.39. On a previous trip, I picked up a chocolate cake from the bakery for $8.99 among other additional grocery items. I was not allowed to purchase the Chicken, but was allowed to purchase the chocolate cake. In my activities helping the homeless for the past 24 years I have purchased(not with food stamps) many of the Rotisserie Chickens, prepared hoagies/sandwiches and salads for the homeless and found them to be excellent, easy forms of nutritious meals for them. The chickens alone I have seen feed up to 4 people. That's incredible to feed 4 people for anywheres from $5.99 - $7.39.

So, simply, I would like to see the Hot Food items from the deli areas etc on the eligible list. Things like the following:
ALL Hot Food Items such as and including Hot Rotisserie Chicken


Benefits:
1) This is "Prevention". What it will do is help to prevent the homeless from getting unnecessarily ill from poorly, improperly stored and prepared foods.
2) Another benefit of this then is some level of relief on the emergency personnel and medical facilities for these types of illnesses from the homeless population.
3) One less reason the people who receive the SNAP benefits will have to sell their benefits for cash in order to get easily accessible meals.

It is just common sense. The Homeless problem is obvious. Access to a good meal especially at night is not feasible. Not all homeless want to eat at a shelter. In fact this has nothing to do with the shelters. The SNAP benefits are so people can go obtain their food on their own, by themselves, take it home and prepare it and comfortably consume it. Well, the homeless do not have a home to do that.

So, please. Lets make it easier for them to feed themselves.

I am not saying it is a perfect fix, but it can alleviate some of the panhandling one feels the need to do in order to get a hot meal when on the street. No, it will not be an end all save all. And not all homeless want to panhandle. But many times they feel they have no choice.

If we authorise the Hot Foods, or anything prepared by the delis it will honestly make a huge difference to the Homeless population. After all, it is all food.

IN CLOSING: I would like to mention we are aware of the extensive work the USDA has done to try and provide these SNAP benefits to the general population and for the most part except for what I have detailed here I feel they have done an awesome job and service and Thank the USDA for their efforts.

***UPDATE: Since I wrote this post, I emailed the USDA. I have been contacted by the USDA twice in response to my emails. Also, I have updated this blog just a little to reflect their communication. Cold sandwishes and salads can be purchased on Food Stamps/SNAP and if stores are not allowing it they are in error. They provided valuable information for me to use in our efforts to assist the Homeless. I want to say, the USDA seems to be very much on the ball in their responses. They were extremely quick and professional. Our sincerest gratitiude goes out to them for their efficient communication with us.

If you agree with me please write to the below contact information at the USDA as I also will be.

Lets make a difference.

Thank you!
Lance Greene / @HOMELESSCRISIS
Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life / Founder
Knoxville TN.
Cell: 865-964-1461


In order to expedite future requests for determination, please submit by mail or email a complete and legible product label or a sample of the item(s) to:

Chief
Retailer Management and Issuance Branch
Benefit Redemption Division
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 404
Alexandria, VA 22302
BRDHQ-WEB@fns.usda.gov