SNAP assistance critical for Florida families in crisis

The Sunshine State is disaster prone. While most of the time we live in paradise, every year during the Atlantic hurricane season, Florida is one of the states most likely to suffer the ravages of storm surge, power outages, flooding, and major evacuations. Hurricane Irma has shown us that we are all vulnerable to circumstances beyond our control, and safety net programs like SNAP (formerly food stamps) can help families through a crisis.

Newspapers have reported on the long lines of Floridians waiting to receive money to replace food that was lost or destroyed during the hurricane. This benefit (D-SNAP) was available to low income residents who would not usually qualify for SNAP but were pushed into a crisis because of the unexpected expenses of a disaster. Most reporting has focused on the overwhelming turnout and whether or not the state was adequately prepared to meet that need efficiently.

There was, however, no doubt that the federal funds were there to cover the need. If federal nutrition programs move from an immediate need based response to a formula block grant, as some members of Congress propose, D-SNAP would no longer be an immediate response. It would take an Act of Congress, as is happening with our neighbor, Puerto Rico, to provide this benefit.

As the president/CEO of Florida Impact, a statewide organization that engages with a network of nonprofit partners across the state, I feel it is necessary to speak out about the danger of cutting SNAP. For Florida, a strong SNAP program has meant that we have been able to respond quickly to the challenge of the recession for families; and keep the safety net available during economic crisis and natural disasters.

To date, more than 900,000 Floridians have been approved for D-SNAP benefits amounting to over $1 billion in federal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Every month in Florida, 1 in 5 rural households and 1 in 7 households in metro areas receive SNAP benefits.

SNAP helps keep nutritious food on struggling families’ tables. It is particularly responsive during disasters, like Hurricane Irma. The ability of the program to expand enrollment when unemployment rises, and contract again when the economy improves, is essential to the recovery of Floridians. While enrollment has decreased in recent years as the economy improved, not all Floridians have enjoyed the same recovery.

Programs like SNAP are critical to helping all Floridians lead healthy lives. In this state, we have a long legacy of helping our neighbors in need — a recent example is the influx of disaster victims from Puerto Rico. If federal funding for these programs is cut, it will put an incredible strain on the hungerrelief infrastructure. Ultimately, we would have to turn our backs on our neighbors when they need us most.

I continue to urge our congressional delegation to oppose any cuts to SNAP and to fully fund the Farm Bill’s nutrition programs, which are so important to the health and well-being of Floridians.

Trudy Novicki, of Boca Raton, is president/CEO of Florida Impact, Tallahassee.