Hunger is a policy choice.
Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition for our next monthly meetup!
Wednesday, February 15, 10:00-11:00am
We’ll provide an update on bills we’re currently monitoring in the Iowa Legislature, give some basic information on what’s in the Farm Bill (which will be a big topic in Congress this year), and share updates from folks across the state.
Update: the February 2nd subcommittee meeting for SSB 1105 was postponed.
Yesterday saw the introduction of Senate Study Bill 1105, which targets SNAP and other public assistance programs. A subcommittee meeting for this bill has already been scheduled for Thursday, February 2, at 10:00am.
Please contact the members of the subcommittee for SSB 1105 today and tell them you do not support this harmful bill!
Sen. Jeff Edler – jeff.edler@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Mark Costello – mark.costello@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott – sarah.trone.garriott@legis.iowa.gov
One note on the subcommittee meeting tomorrow: you can testify remotely in the Senate via Zoom!
Unfortunately, SSB 1105 does include some very harmful provisions that are also in HF 3, including:
Please contact the members of the subcommittee for SSB 1105 today and tell them to put a stop to this harmful bill!
The subcommittee meeting for House File 3 was held yesterday, and the room was absolutely packed full of advocates speaking out against HF 3. People are fired up about this bill and legislators and the media took notice. Thank you to everyone who spoke out against HF 3 and helped to raise awareness about this bad bill!
While the outcome was not what we hoped, it was what we expected. The bill advanced out of the subcommittee on a 2-1 party line vote, but members of the subcommittee said they will be making changes to the bill before it comes before the full House Health and Human Services Committee. So, we’ve got our work cut out for us.
But first, let’s celebrate a win! The WIC-approved food list is out. Iowans spoke loud and clear that they did not want our legislators limiting the food options for low-income Iowans. But, while the WIC list is out, there is going to be an amendment to ban soda and candy from SNAP purchases.
The coming days and weeks are going to be critical in stopping HF 3. Please contact the members of the House Health and Human Services Committee (listed below) and ask them to:
Visit iowahungercoalition.org/protect-snap for more info on HF 3.
Rep. Ann Meyer – ann.meyer@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Tom Jeneary – tom.jeneary@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Devon Wood – devon.wood@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell – beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Eddie Andrews – eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Austin Baeth – austin.baeth@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Michael Bergan – michael.bergan@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Brian Best – brian.best@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Brooke Boden – brooke.boden@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Steven Bradley – steven.bradley@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Timi Brown-Powers – timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. John Forbes – john.forbes@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Joel Fry – joel.fry@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla – barb.kniffmcculla@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Brian Lohse – brian.lohse@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Shannon Lundgren – shannon.lundgren@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Mary Madison – mary.madison@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Heather Matson – heather.matson@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Thomas Moore – tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Josh Turek – josh.turek@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Hans Wilz – hans.wilz@legis.iowa.gov
It’s the end of the first week of the 2023 Iowa legislative session, and the news is, well, not good. As you may have guessed from the title of this post, we saw a bill introduced this week targeting SNAP, House File 3.
This bill would restrict SNAP participants’ ability to make their own food choices, take food away from Iowans, and increase hunger and food insecurity in our state. The harmful proposals in the bill include:
Other foods that would be restricted from SNAP purchases make up a lengthy list including frozen prepared foods, butter, flour, cooking oil, herbs, spices, coffee and tea, cottage cheese, snack foods, nuts and seeds, white rice, rice noodles, jam, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, condiments, white bread, meal kits, bottled water, sliced cheese, crackers, and on and on. It’s much easier to list what you still would be able to purchase with SNAP than to list all the items you could not.
Learn more about on this bad bill.
Real stories from real Iowans can stop HF 3, but legislators need to hear loud and clear that we will not stand for this attack on SNAP and the rely on it. You can help stop this bad bill by taking action:
Contact us at iowahungercoalition@gmail.com.
Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition for our next monthly meetup!
Wednesday, January 18, 10:00-11:00am
We’ll provide a refresher on the legislative process in Iowa and walk through some tips and tricks for navigating the legislature’s website to stay updated and engaged on legislative action, lobbyist declarations, and more!
New data from the USDA shows that 40% of SNAP recipients in Iowa are children, the number of SNAP participants in Iowa is at a 14-year low, and three out of four SNAP households live below the federal poverty line. The report also finds there was an increase in single adults without dependents enrolling in SNAP during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Characteristics of SNAP Households: FY 2020 and Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic examines data for fiscal year 2020, both for the period of October 2019-February 2020 (Pre-Pandemic), as well the early pandemic period of June-September 2020 (Waiver Period). Data for March-May were not reported.
The new data shines a light on the changes seen in who was enrolled in SNAP prior to and during the early summer months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to this latest set of data, during the pandemic months of June-September 2020:
You download the full USDA report at the link below.
Update: a video recording of the December 2022 IHC monthly meetup is available below.
Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition for our first of many monthly meetups! Connect virtually with anti-hunger advocates from across the state and get the latest news and updates from IHC.
Wednesday, December 21, 10:00-11:00am
In December, we’ll be unveiling IHC’s legislative agenda for the upcoming 2023 state legislative session and hearing from the School Nutrition Association of Iowa on an advocacy effort to pass healthy school meals for all in Iowa! We’ll also have time for people to share updates from around the state.
As food banks and food pantries break records across the state, Iowans have collectively missed out on an estimated $141 million in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the months from April through August 2022.
This translates to an estimated loss of $217 million in gross domestic product (GDP) for the state of Iowa. According to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), every $1 in SNAP benefits issued results in $1.54 in estimated economic impact.
Explore data at the county level and by congressional district
In April 2022, SNAP participants in Iowa lost access to additional SNAP benefits due to the governor’s decision to lift the Public Health Disaster Emergency Proclamation earlier this year. Total SNAP benefits in Iowa decreased by 43% from March to April. On average, households have been receiving $200 less in benefits every month. The average SNAP benefit per meal for individuals in Iowa was $1.56 in August 2022. In October 2022, annual cost of living adjustments for SNAP increased the average benefit amount by 12.5%.
“If the SNAP Emergency Allotments were still in place today, I’d be receiving $281 a month for groceries. In actuality, I’m getting $23,” said Tara Kramer of Des Moines. “ Navigating my new normal on a fixed income involves me planning trips to food pantries multiple times a week. I’m nervous about unexpected expenses; having to choose between paying for a medical service or buying food. I’m so tired. I’m not sleeping enough, I don’t wake up feeling refreshed anymore.”
“We have a 3 year old and a 1 year old at home, and with the recent reduction in SNAP benefits, we’re having to make hard choices about what we can afford, and stress a lot more about making sure nothing gets wasted,” said Cecelia Proffit of Iowa City. “We try not to pass that stress and anxiety on to our kids, but the unnecessary reduction in benefits takes a toll on us not just nutritionally, but mentally and emotionally as well. Money is tight, especially with prices going up for everything and no commensurate pay increases. It was nice to not have to worry so much about how we’d feed our kids. Now that’s been added back to our pile of things to worry about.”
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) allowed states to issue the maximum allowable benefit to all SNAP participants through Emergency Allotments. In order to distribute Emergency Allotments, states are required to have a public health emergency in place. Iowa is one of 17 states that have ended Emergency Allotments for SNAP.
“Hunger is a policy choice, and I can’t think of a more clear example that illustrates this,” said Luke Elzinga, chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “Not only has the loss in SNAP benefits harmed the physical and mental health of people experiencing hunger and food insecurity, it has put a tremendous strain on anti-hunger organizations who are breaking records to make sure Iowans stay fed.”
Food banks and food pantries across the state of Iowa are facing historic numbers of people seeking assistance. Organizations attribute some of the increased traffic to rising food costs, but clearly note the significant effect the loss in SNAP benefits is having.
“More of our neighbors than ever before are turning to us for support,” said John Boller, Executive Director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry. “Since April 1, we have seen an overall increase of 55% compared to the same period in 2021. Inversely, we have experienced a decrease in our food supply: food donations are down and we still face limited availability of universally needed staples like meat, eggs, rice, peanut butter, and canned fruit. Our shelves and coolers are literally bare by the end of each pantry shift.”
“Unfortunately we have seen the increase that we predicted was coming our way,” said Andrea Cook, Program Director at Johnston Partnership Place. “Higher food costs, high gas prices, and the governor’s end to the emergency declaration have given rise to increased traffic at food pantries. We are seeing faces we haven’t seen in six years or more, not to mention the increase in families who have never needed this type of help before.”
“With limited inventory at the food bank, high costs for our food purchases, continued supply chain shortages, reduced community donations, and the increased client need, it is a constant struggle to keep our shelves stocked,” said Nicole McAlexander, Executive Director of the Southeast Linn Community Center. “We have a generous community, dedicated staff and wonderful volunteers, but without government support or systemic changes, this trajectory is unsustainable. We can prevent hunger in Iowa, but it cannot happen through food pantries and community generosity alone.”
278,514 Iowans participate in SNAP as of August 2022, the lowest SNAP enrollment has been in nearly 14 years. According to the USDA, 63% of Iowans enrolled in SNAP in 2018 were children, seniors, and disabled adults. While states cost-share with the federal government on the administration of the SNAP program, SNAP benefits themselves are fully funded by the federal government.
“While the actual case counts of COVID had decreased by April, we saw counts rise again throughout the summer,” said Elzinga. “And regardless of the case counts, the impacts from COVID are still being felt – and felt the hardest by lower-income members of our communities.”
A video recording of this webinar is available on YouTube and is embedded below.
You can also access the slides from the presentation here (PDF).
Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition on Wednesday, September 14, at 10:00am for an educational webinar on how to engage with candidates for elected office!
Learn the do’s and don’ts of how nonprofit organizations can engage with candidates, how to find out who is running in your district, and get some advice on scheduling and planning your meetings with candidates.
The Iowa Hunger Coalition will be holding our annual meeting on Wednesday, July 6, from 10am-12pm. We will be holding the annual meeting online via Zoom again this year.
At our annual meeting we’ll reflect on the past year together, provide an update on the past legislative session and work together to brainstorm policy ideas for our state legislative agenda for the 2023 session.