Media Coverage

"Generally, the government's food assistance programs have among the lowest rates of abuse of any federal program — less than 1 percent of food stamp payments go to those who are not eligible for the program, the federal government says."

"Millions of people may lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as a result of changes proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. More than 40,000 Mahoning County residents receive SNAP — sometimes called food stamps — each month. Proposed changes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the methods used to determine benefit eligibility may see some of those individuals removed from the program."

"The Ohio Association of Foodbanks, its 12 member foodbanks and 3,500 non-profit and faith-based charities extend our deepest appreciation to the Ohio General Assembly and Governor DeWine for their commitment to Ohioans facing hunger."

"SNAP benefits are paid by the federal government. Any reduction in SNAP caseloads due to stricter HB 200 requirements would save federal funds but increase state and county costs to administer the program. Members of the General Assembly need look no further than an analysis by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission to judge whether the questionable benefits of HB 200 — if there are any — are greater than the costs."

"House Bill 200 would create an expensive new bureaucracy that will cost Ohio taxpayers millions. Grocery stores would lose millions in federally funded SNAP benefits, leading to lost jobs, lost local tax revenue and store closures. Taking food away from hungry people living on the brink does not promote work — it just drives more people to our food pantry lines."

Guest columnist Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, discusses the urgent need for a response to increased demand for help with food from seniors. "The Ohio senior population is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Many will be low-income seniors in need of food assistance: More than half of Cleveland’s seniors live on incomes of less than $25,000 a year."