SNAP offers food benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families. Oregon has had a higher proportion of households on SNAP than the U.S. as a whole since 2000 with one-third of households on the SNAP program. More than 50% of all U.S. citizens will use SNAP at least once during their lifetime but, living on the average benefit of approximately $4 per person, per day is not easy. Millions of low-income Americans are forced to make tough decisions on a daily basis to get by.
You can experience what its like to survive on $4 a day by taking the SNAP Challenge. Over the past few years, many people nationwide have voluntarily done this. Although most people take the Challenge for just one week, many participants say they learned firsthand about how hard it can be to avoid hunger, afford nutritious foods, and stay healthy on this government assistance program. Learn more about the SNAP Challenge here.
Meanwhile, as of this year some of the area's poorest SNAP recipients face losing even that meager amount. In Multnomah and Washington counties, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) is re-instating a three-month limit on SNAP benefits for unemployed adults between 18 and 50 years old who aren't disabled or raising minor children. There are a few exemptions, and we encourage recipients to check with their worker to ensure their benefits will not be effected.
According to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, 25,000 Multnomah County residents and 7,000 Washington County residents were sent notices about the upcoming changes. Meanwhile anti-hunger advocates are quick to point out that the SNAP program is not a charity. As with Social Security, taxpayers pay into this program and, when needed, can access those benefits.
The first wave of people will be cut off SNAP on April 1. As we brace for these changes, our Emergency Aid program is receiving an unprecedented number of requests and is already stretched to maximum capacity.
"We might not see any effects until mid-April or even mid-year when people start losing their benefits and we get more people needing meals at the food banks," says Myrma Jensen of the Oregon Food Bank.
For more information, visit
Hunger Free Oregon.
If you know someone facing an emergency, Contact Maria Rehback at 503-226-7079, x 128 or