Living on SNAP (Food Stamps): Part One

The news barrages us with headlines about how politicians are trying to cut spending. One of the government programs that has come under scrutiny is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, previously known as Food Stamps). SNAP provides temporary assistance to individuals and families in need of food assistance. Whenever I watch and read the news I can’t help but wonder who exactly is affected by these cuts, as well as how necessary and efficient the programs are.

I have heard many misconceptions from those around me regarding ideas of those who receive SNAP and the ease at which someone is able to obtain these benefits. This blog post series seeks to delve into a very small portion of those who currently receive or received SNAP in the past, and dispel many misconceptions and preconceived notions. By exploring these stories, and those affected, we are able to understand the purpose, benefits, drawbacks, and experiences of those who rely on this in order to feed themselves and their families.

A Few Facts:

As of May 27^th, 2011, 44,587,328 Americans received aid from SNAP. In North Carolina, 1,561,887 people receive SNAP. This is a 17% increase from March 2010, where 1,327,754 individuals and families received assistance. Without this aid, those who rely on SNAP may not be able to pay for other expenses, such as medication, utilities, and childcare.

My Background:

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA I am paid $820 a month and am not allowed to receive secondary income (hold another job). VISTA service is for one year, and we serve at nonprofits and faith based organizations. We are paid so little because the purpose of VISTA is to end poverty on a community level, and in doing so we should understand how people live in the communities we serve.

I am currently in my second year of VISTA service, having concluded a year in Washington (state) in 2009, and am about to conclude my second year, in North Carolina. I first applied for SNAP in Washington. I chose to apply because I was unable to pay my rent, car payments (I was required to have a car for my type of service), fuel, and food costs with the little income I received. At first, I received $60 a month in assistance, and by the end of my service term I received $90 a month. Unable to adequately feed myself on this amount, I also frequented the local food pantry for staples such as bread, eggs, cereal, and canned foods.

Exploration into the Lives of those Affected:

There are those in this country who receive less pay than I, have children to feed, and are struggling to pay their expenses while also feeding themselves. This series will hopefully give a glimpse into these peoples lives and how exactly SNAP helps those in our communities. The next article in this series consists of interviews with those who currently use food assistance, and have used food assistance in the past.



Written by:

Andriana Bicanin

AmeriCorps*VISTA
2010 - 2011

New Century IDA