A 'Circle' Of Support Helps Families Stay Out Of Poverty
An innovative program seeks to fight persistent poverty by helping a struggling family navigate past some of the day-to-day obstacles that keep many people poor.
food stamps
A Mother's Essay Challenges Assumptions About Poverty
When her once-middle-class family suddenly needed help, Darlena Cunha drove a Mercedes to enroll in the federal nutrition program. "The most embarrassing part was how I felt about myself," she writes.
Economic Upswing Has Fewer Americans Receiving Food Stamps
Last year, about 1 in 7 people in the U.S. were getting food stamps, or SNAP benefits. But the numbers have started to drop as more people find work and better-paying jobs, analysts say.
Small Cuts To Food Stamps Add Up To Big Pains For Many Recipients
The proposed farm bill would cut nearly $1 billion a year from the food stamp program, known as SNAP. While it's far less than what Republicans had originally wanted, the proposal will affect roughly 850,000 households, many of which are still struggling from cuts made only three months ago.
Food Stamp Cuts Leave Rural Areas, And Their Grocers, Reeling
In communities grappling with high unemployment, grocery stores serve many customers who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to get by. Some stores are estimating that their sales might fall between 5 and 10 percent now that the government has reduced the benefits.
Shutdown Leaves Some Seniors Worried About Their Next Meal
Some Michigan seniors may be going hungry thanks to the government shutdown. In western Kent County alone, more than 1,300 low-income seniors depend on a government surplus food program. But the USDA has announced that the program is hold until further notice.