Area food banks: Potential for more clientele
Food bank officials say they could see a surge in clientele as changes kick in limiting the length of time many adults in Pennsylvania can receive food stamps.
Last week was the earliest federal rules would have started to affect food stamp recipients after those restrictions were suspended for years.
Starting March 1, adults considered able-bodied who don’t have dependents living with them are eligible to receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits for only three months in a three-year period, unless they meet criteria for an exemption.
The effects are already showing for staff at the Greater Washington County Food Bank.
“We get calls every day now that people are losing their food stamps asking for food,” said Lorraine Johnson, pantry liaison for the Centerville-based food bank.
Capt. Susan Thwaite of the Monessen Salvation Army said the pantry has emergency stocks on hand to handle any additional demand.
She said she expects an influx at the pantry, which gives out food to about 150 to 170 households a month, but said it’s too early to put a figure on it.
“Call me Monday and I can tell you how bad it is,” she said, noting Friday is “food day” at the pantry.
The state Department of Human Services has estimated that the changes could affect 1,828 food stamp recipients in Washington County and 415 in Greene.
Fayette County is among the areas where the three-month limit on SNAP benefits is still suspended. DHS spokeswoman Rachel Kostelac said DHS secured waivers for some counties, cities and boroughs based on unemployment figures.
The restrictions have been in place since 1996 in the federal law governing SNAP. Pennsylvania was among many states that received waivers of those restrictions because of elevated unemployment rates during the 2008 financial meltdown.
“We’re now seeing that unemployment rates have declined, and that federal mandate went back into effect,” said Kostelac.
The changes took effect March 1 in Pennsylvania, but the earliest anyone would have lost food stamps was June 1, the end of the three-month period.
Staff at the Corner Cupboard Food Bank in Waynesburg, which serves 11 pantries in the county, said they haven’t seen additional demand.
“As far as the SNAP benefits affecting our clients, I haven’t noticed a difference,” said Candace Tustin, the nonprofit’s executive director.
Jessica Cole, its director of operations, said the food bank might see more demand as people realize they’ve lost food stamps.
The revived rules apply to adults who are under 50, are considered able-bodied and don’t have a minor living in their household.
Pennsylvania is one of 22 states where the 1996 provisions will be in effect this year for the first time since before the recession, according to Center For Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank.
Louise Hayes, a supervising attorney with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said she was “very troubled” that people can lose food stamps as they look for work under the rule.
People for whom the requirements apply can keep receiving food stamps if they work or perform 20 hours or more of approved community service every week, or if they’re enrolled in certain education programs.
Still, getting these exemptions may not be easy for some.
“I think that would be difficult for people in rural areas,” Hayes said. “The number of jobs or the number of community service opportunities would be limited.”
Heidi Hoffman, donor relations coordinator at the Washington County food bank, said several people signed up to comply with the community service exemption – welcome addition to a group she said could always use volunteers.
In Monessen, many of the 25 to 30 regular volunteers at the Salvation Army’s pantry receive food stamps.
“Some of our folks were ahead of the SNAP change,” Thwaite said.