food stamps

More than a third of California college students report experiencing food insecurity, but a federal pandemic relief bill made more of them eligible for CalFresh.

A federal judge on Sunday threw out a Trump Administration proposal that would have cut food stamps to 700,000 Americans, including many foster youths aging out of care, at the end of the coronavirus emergency, which has put millions out of work.

Young people leaving foster care already face frustrating barriers when it comes to getting food stamps, a critical support for a population with high rates of homelessness and unemployment. As the Trump administration continues its efforts to clamp down on food stamp eligibility with a new set of rules targeting people living in the most impoverished parts of the country, foster youth and those aging out of the system will have an even tougher time feeding themselves.

Access to food stamps for millions of people hangs in the balance as Congress negotiates two disparate versions of the farm bill. Last week, the House passed a bill that calls for significant cuts to the federal food stamp program, known nationally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was honored this month by a state charity for its efforts to proactively help low-income families access state benefits. DHHS was the recipient of the Compassion in Action Award, given out each year by the Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach Center (MTKO), a Lincoln-based nonprofit with a mission to prevent hunger and homeless.

Time continues to wind down toward the end of 2012, which is also the deadline to get an agreement on federal budget and tax policy before America goes over the so-called fiscal cliff.

The House and Senate scrambled to complete work and leave for the campaign trail last week. The last major action was the Senate final passage of a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through March 27, 2013.

The House and Senate return this week with time running out on the pre-election agenda. Both houses are likely to leave by August 6 for the traditional summer break. They will return after Labor Day on September 7.