Food insecurity is an important issue in our country, especially within the immigrant community. With recent cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), many immigrants are afraid that they won’t have enough money to feed their families, especially their children. The new rule looks at removing the 20 hours of working or training, that provides eligibility to adults who need some financial support to eat. Furthermore, Oregon estimates that 9,000 people will lose their SNAP benefits with this new change, which can lead to more health related stressors. Food insecurity leads to diet-related illness, such as chronic diseases, lack of focus in school (impacts children greatly), employment and more.
To act on this knowledge, one must be present to make public comments about the change, which DHS hosted. This can be done through letters to your legislators at DC and Oregon, and those who are on the SNAP advisory board in Oregon. The dialogue on this issue will continue, with more awareness. Immigrant services should act by providing interpreters to their population, and motivate them to attend public meetings to state their concerns, if they are able to.
Here is a
resource: https://frac.salsalabs.org/comment-on-trump-cat-el-proposed-rule-reopened-oct2019/index.html
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Here is a letter submitted on behalf of the public comment: https://oregonhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hunger-Free-Oregon-SNAP-Categorical-Eligibility-Proposed-Rule-Change-Comment-school-meals-focus-10-21-19.pdf
Article on Oregon SNAP impact: https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-says-19000-could-lose-benefits-under-new-SNAP-rule-565912341.html
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