The Problem

Oh SNAP!
SNAP = Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. This is the nation's food stamp program and provides 28 million people nationwide the help they need to buy one of the basic necessities of living, food. The coupons that the program gives out can be used like cash at most grocery stores. SNAP "represents the pledge that hunger will not be tolerated in America." And though they do a valuable service for those in need of help, they can only do so much as a federally sponsored service. Last year the average person received $145.55 per month. This may seem like a lot compared to your monthly bill for the food you buy at school. Mine is normally about $40. But keep in mind this is for all three meals, 7 days a week. Even though I seemingly eat very little, this monthly school bill does not factor in any of my dinners, snacks, and weekends, where I normally gorge myself. That $145.55 per month, over the course of a 30 day month, comes out to merely $4.85 per day. (This number is in Hawaii, where we are given a lot more than the national average because of high food costs). And though many companies are trying their best to help consumers stretch their dollars further nowadays, it is still very hard to accomplish living on a food budget this small.
The households who receive SNAP are also limited to the products they can buy with these coupons. Alcohol, tobacco, lunch counter items, vitamins, other medicines, pet foods, and any non-food items are all on the ban list. Agreeably, some of these items should not be allowed, but as we have learned from other research projects done, our normal diet does not contain nearly enough of the essential vitamins that the human body needs to stay healthy for the long term. Items like vitamins and medication are also very expensive and there is no way to stay under budget if you are paying for such things.
The federal government spends nearly 30 billion dollars annually to solve this hunger issue. They aid 27 million people nationwide. In Hawaii, there are nearly 50,000 households and 94,000 individuals, roughly the amount of people that can fit into the University of Texas football stadium, depending on this program for assistance.
But, there are many who still need additional help. There is a surplus of people who are continually going without the proper nutrition needed. Thats where food banks and generous donations by those more fortunate have to come in. Still, many suffer. They continue to go hungry and perform poorly at school and work because of this. My project will consist of living in these unfortunate circumstances and limiting my food consumption to less than the average $4.85 alloted.


For more info on how much help it is determined go here:
http://hawaii.gov/dhs/self-sufficiency/benefit/FNS#MaxAllot