Closing the Snap
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CLOSING THE SNAP RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT HUNGER AND STRENGTHEN GAP SNAP IN HOUSTON LETTER FROM THE HOUSTON SNAP TASK FORCE As co-chairs of the Houston SNAP Task Force, we are Composed of over 40 individuals from the public, private and pleased to present this report outlining our Task Force’s nonprofit sectors, including community-based partners, health policy recommendations for increasing enrollment in SNAP care providers, food retailers, philanthropy, and individuals with within Houston. experiential knowledge of hunger and SNAP, the Task Force met to explore barriers to SNAP participation and identify policy recommendations that build upon the strides Texas and Houston Despite a growing body of research have made over the last decade to serve more eligible people. As part of the process, stakeholders shared their particular documenting SNAP’s positive impacts experiences and expertise on the various aspects of SNAP on food insecurity, public health, operations in Houston: administering SNAP, redeeming benefits and assisting SNAP applicants. economic development and overall quality of life, more than one in five The SNAP recommendations in this report build upon decades of leadership around eliminating hunger, and best practices and eligible Houstonians are missing out on policies, including some already in operation in Texas such as SNAP benefits that would help them the Standard Medical Deduction and the Community Partner purchase food. Program. It is our hope that this report will be used as a tool for further advocacy and action. Everyone deserves access to affordable, nutritious food. The Houston SNAP Task Force was convened based on We are confident that Houston stakeholders will continue to the understanding that a strong Supplemental Nutritional lend time and resources to help bring these recommendations Assistance Program (SNAP) is essential in the fight to to fruition in the years ahead. We thank all the Houston SNAP eliminate hunger in Houston, and that everyone has a stake in Task Force members for their time and insights, and Target for the work. SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps,” is the nation’s its support of this work. first line of defense against poverty and hunger. Despite a growing body of research documenting SNAP’s positive impacts on food insecurity, public health, economic development and Sincerely, overall quality of life, more than one in five eligible Houstonians are missing out on SNAP benefits that would help them Brian Greene, Co-Chair Dr. Bob Sanborn, Co-Chair purchase food. President & CEO President & CEO Houston Food Bank CHILDREN AT RISK 2 | Closing the SNAP Gap Houston SNAP Task Force Members Abel Martinez · Group V.P. Gary Huddleston · Food Lisa Guitguit · Director of Sherri Onyiego · Chronic of Partner Relations, Risk Industry Consultant · Texas Operations · YMCA of Greater Disease Prevention Physician · Solutions, and Government Retailers Association Houston Harris County Public Health Affairs · H-E-B Gwen Sims · Division Director, Lisa Helfman · Founder & Stephanie Berno · Director of Amber Weed · Senior Policy Nutrition and Chronic Disease Board Chair · Brighter Bites Outreach Services · Houston Advisor · Office of Harris Prevention · Harris County Food Bank County Commissioner Public Health Maggie Sun · Social Benefits Rodney Ellis Manager · Chinese Community Tina Tran · Director, Outreach Jamie Olson · Policy Analyst · Center & Advocacy · AARP Texas State Andrea Siceluff · Research Feeding Texas Office – Houston Assistant · The University of Mandi Kimball · Director of Texas Health Science Center at Jane Vo · Former Senior Public Policy and Government Toral Sindha · Houston and Houston Program Director · Chinese Affairs · CHILDREN AT RISK Harris County Regional Director, Community Center Clinton Health Matters Astoria White · Senior Health Marlene Vasquez · Client Initiative · Clinton Foundation and Wellness Administrative JC Dwyer · Chief Strategy Assistance, Program QA & Coordinator · BakerRipley Officer · Feeding Texas Compliance · Houston Trina Taylor · Client Assistance Food Bank Program, Associate Director · Betti Wiggins · Officer of Jessica Flynn Saldaña · Houston Food Bank Nutrition Services · Houston Customer Insights Manager · Mary Ann Welch · Health and Independent School District H-E-B Wellness Supervisor · Houston Dr. Umair Shah · Executive Area Urban League Director · Harris County Bryan Bolton · Director of Jimmieka Mills · Consultant Public Health Business Development · Patient Marycruz Bazan-Nila · Care · Intervention Center Joe Williams · Former Vice Client Assistance Program Warren Wenner · Vice President, Regulatory & Coordinator · Houston Food President · Meals on Wheels Celia Cole · Chief Executive Member Services · Texas Bank for Greater Houston/Galveston Officer · Feeding Texas Retailers Association County; Interfaith Ministries for Megan Hoag · Regional Greater Houston Cynthia Colbert · President Joey Palacios · District Director · Texas Hunger & CEO · Catholic Charities of Supervisor · Lewis Food Initiative – Houston Regional the Archdiocese of Galveston- Town, Inc. Office, Baylor University Houston advisors Johannah Thompkins · Mike Pomeroy · Senior Danielle Bolks · Senior Community Engagement Program Director · Brighter Daniel Magbo · Field Policy – Program Director · YMCA of Coordinator · Office of Harris Bites Region 6 · Texas Health and Greater Houston County Commissioner Human Services Commission · Rodney Ellis Oleg Jolic · Chief Services AES – Access & Eligibility Dr. Daphne Hernandez · Officer · Houston Food Bank Services Associate Professor, Kathy Lipman · Senior Box Department of Health & Program, Manager · Houston Omar Fortune · Senior Gracie Perez · Regional Human Performance; Director, Food Bank Workforce Planner · Workforce Director – Region 6 · Texas HOUSTON Academy · Solutions – Gulf Coast Health and Human Services University of Houston Kathy Sweidel-Caton · Vice Workforce Board Commission · AES – Access & President of Communications, Eligibility Services Dorian Cockrell · Senior Lewis Food Town, Inc. · Food Rolonda Clements-Martin · Manager, Workforce Council Chairwoman, Texas Job Connection Manager/ J. Hoxi Jones · Regional Development, THRIVE · United Retailers Association Program Manager · Goodwill Partnership Specialist · Texas Way of Greater Houston Houston Health and Human Services Katie Chennisi · Public Health Commission · AES – Access & Dya Campos · Director of Analyst · Healthy Living Matters, Roxane May · Eligibility Services Governmental and Public Harris County Public Health Disproportionality and Affairs · H-E-B Disparities Specialist · Texas Lance Gilliam · Partner · Health and Human Services co-chairs Emily Adlparvar · Program Waterman Steele Commission Region 5 Coordinator · The University of Dr. Bob Sanborn · President & Texas Health Science Center at Linsi Broom · Former Sarah McIntire · Government CEO · CHILDREN AT RISK Houston Community Liaison · Houston Relations Officer · Houston Health Department, City of Food Bank Brian Greene · President & Felicia Jackson · Family Houston CEO · Houston Food Bank Support Services Manager · Sharon Zachary · CEO · Houston Area Urban League Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, Inc. Closing the SNAP Gap | 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps,” is the nation’s first line of THE HOUSTON SNAP TASK FORCE defense against poverty and hunger, and has been proven to be an effective, efficient source of temporary assistance for families in need. Not only does SNAP help lift families out of The Houston SNAP Task Force was convened by poverty, but every federally funded SNAP dollar generates Houston Food Bank, Food Research & Action Center, $1.79 in economic activity, supporting farmers, food producers, and The Food Trust, and co-chaired by Houston Food food retailers and other businesses, and creating jobs in the Bank and CHILDREN AT RISK. The group included Houston area. Those resources are used to purchase food representatives from state and local government at SNAP-authorized grocery stores, convenience stores, and private and non-profit leaders from community community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares, military development, health, grocery, education, civic and commissaries and other outlets. anti-hunger sectors, and people with direct experience with SNAP. Feedback and advice was also obtained In 2016, SNAP served an average of 672,219 persons in through focus groups comprised of a diverse set of low-income Houstonians. Houston, bringing in $979,841,468 of federally funded benefits that in turn generated $1,753,916,228 in economic activity. SNAP’s contributions to Houstonians’ well-being could be bolstered by reaching the over 1 out of 5 people (22.3%) who are “eligible but not enrolled” (EBNE) in SNAP. The Houston The Task Force recommends support for immediate and longer- SNAP gap leaves an estimated 193,551 Houstonians eligible for term strategies to improve and modernize SNAP administration, but not receiving SNAP benefits.1 application assistance, and enrollment and benefit redemption. Efforts to increase participation in SNAP should dovetail with the This means that each year, Houston has over $110 million of state’s overall agenda to improve SNAP access and operations unclaimed SNAP benefits that could otherwise provide groceries throughout Texas. The success of those efforts will benefit for children, seniors and families who need help. Since every from coordinated action among all sectors: