Ending Hunger in America, 2014 Hunger Report Full Report | Page 129

CHAPTER 4
opportunity” between pregnancy and age 2 and those ages 2 through 5. Food distribution
programs send packages of bulk commodities to local providers who serve meals in congregate settings, such as in long-term care facilities for low-income seniors.
Nearly three-fourths of USDA’s entire operating budget now goes to nutrition programs.3
In 2012, Bread for the World released a fact sheet that showed how much the federal nutrition programs contribute to fighting hunger compared to all the food contributed by private
charities. For every 24 bags of food
assistance in the United States,
Figure 4.1 Private vs. Federal Food Assistance (2011)
government nutrition programs
provide 23.4 See Figure 4.1. The
$120
fact sheet was not intended to
28.0
downplay the role of charities in
$100
fighting hunger or to minimize
$96.88
the value of their efforts. Rather,
$80
it was to highlight that private
$60
charity couldn’t possibly expand
by enough to compensate for pro$40
posed cuts to the federal nutrition
programs.
$20
SNAP is often called the nation’s
$4.13
first line of defense against hunger.
$0
In 2013, more than 47 million
$ in Billions
Americans per month participated
in the program—that is nearly one
Federal
Private
in six of us. The size of the program fluctuates as the needs rise
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Feeding America.
and fall, because SNAP eligibility
depends on income. Since the Great Recession ended in 2009, demand has remained at an
all-time high. This makes SNAP a very clear indicator that the post-recession economy is still
quite weak. SNAP participation will shrink once the economy improves and more good jobs
that pay a living wage are created.
In 2013, some members of Congress used reauthorization of the farm bill to propose massive cuts to the SNAP program. The farm bill is the authorizing legislation for SNAP. Nobody
arguing for these cuts could show that the program was not effective—the issue was its cost,
nearly $81 billion in 2012.5 The cuts that the House proposed for a 10-year appropriation
cycle would result in less than 1 percent (0.086) savings in federal spending over this period.6
Meanwhile, anywhere from 4 million to 6 million people would lose their SNAP benefits.7
In July 1998,

22.1 children

received meals through the summer
nutrition program for every 100 who
received free or reduced-price school
lunch in the 1997-1998 school year.3

In July 2012, only

14.3 children

received meals through the summer
nutrition program for every 100 who
received free or reduced-price school
lunch in the 2011-2012 school year.4
www.bread.org/institute?

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