HungerNetOhio #8.8: Friday (October 28) Blitz: A Day to Remember-and ACT!

Email conversations about "ending hunger in Ohio through changing conditions which cause poverty"

With record numbers of families teetering on the verge of homelessness, you wouldn't imagine that legislators would be conjuring up major reductions for the Department of Housing and Urban Development budget which are guaranteed to hurt cash-strapped states and communities in sheltering the most vulnerable citizens. And, with the exponential growth of families unable to feed themselves--facing malnutrition and hunger-- why would the Senate Agricultural Committee be engineering amendments that drastically cut federally funded food programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps)?

Well in both instances, they are!

Congress is NOW considering bills that could ripe gapping holes in the safety net at a time of rising demand, declining resources, stubbornly high unemployment and record poverty rates.

Join other advocates on October 28th in a concentrated effort to change minds and heart: CALL SENATOR BROWN (888-896-6446) AND SENATOR PORTMAN (800-205-6446). ASK THEM TO REJECT ANY AMENDMENTS IN THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD CUT FOOD STAMPS FOR OHIO'S MOST VULNERABLE!

ASK THEM AS WELL TO AVOID CUTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BUDGET THAT WOULD REDUCE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE POOR, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.

Food

At this moment, in the Senate Agricultural Committee, amendments are being discussed that can drastically cut federally funded programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps). On the table is the possibility to eliminate categorical eligibility, as well as a $9 billion cut that could result in a family of four receiving $58 less per month in their SNAP benefits. Proposed cuts would:

• Eliminate National Service AmeriCorps and VISTA programs.
• Remove 287.5 semi-tractor trailer loads of TEFAP commodities from Ohio pantry shelves and the monthly boxes of CSFP food from 4,502 Ohio seniors.
• Eliminate the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
• Cripple the ability of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) to adequately feed a family or allow families participating in the program to save for an emergency or lift themselves out of poverty. On the table is the possibility to eliminate categorical eligibility, as well as a $9 billion cut that could result in a family of four receiving $58 less per month in their SNAP benefits

Housing

With record numbers of families teetering on the verge of homelessness, Congress should be shoring up the precious few federal programs that provide affordable housing for the poor, the elderly and the disabled. Instead, both the House and Senate are considering cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development budget, which would hurt cash-strapped states and communities in sheltering the most vulnerable citizens. The agency spends most of its budget on low-income programs, including on rent vouchers used by nearly two million families and a program that makes it possible for developers to set aside affordable units in multifamily buildings. The Obama administration has asked Congress for about $41.7 billion for the department, roughly the same amount as in each of the past three years. Whereas the proposed House budget would provide about $38 billion, and the one in the Senate about $37 billion. (For more details, reference the New York Times Editorial below: “A Foolish Time to Cut Housing Aid”)

Both

“Be Heard! October 28, 2011 Statewide Call In Day!” Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.  (Also, check with Second Harvest for information and registration: Ohio Senior Hunger Summit on Friday, October 28th from 10:30-3:00 pm at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Grove City, Ohio).

Editorial: “A Foolish Time to Cut Housing Aid.” New York Times.

“Budget Advocacy Tips and Tools.” Coalition for Human Needs. info@chn.org