The Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP),
more commonly known as the food stamp program, recently found itself without
new funding from Congress. This resulted in approximately 47 million Americans
having their food stamp benefits cut. In an interview with a family receiving
food stamp assistance, a mother feels her monthly cut will affect the health of
her family in a very negative way. This mother says her $53 monthly cut will
prevent her from purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. She plans on buying
packaged fruits and freeze dried vegetables now in order to stay within her
tighter budget.
I feel the interview with this mother paints a vivid picture
of the social determinants of health, specifically income. This single mother
has two children, and her main source of income is an $830 per month babysitting
job. With SNAP, she is able to somewhat overcome her income barrier and provide
healthy, fresh foods for her family. With the recent cuts to SNAP, her
available funds are reduced, and those fresh, healthy foods that kept her
family in good health can no longer be purchased. The article details that one
in seven Americans receives benefits through SNAP, and a $40 billion program cut
is currently being debated in Congress. If the program is cut, many Americans
will find themselves living less healthy lives, because they simply cannot
afford to do so. Seniors, children, veterans, and diabetics tend to rely on
SNAP assistance the most, and these at-risk groups will become even more
vulnerable. The cuts made to SNAP will become a public health issue because
income will be a greater determinant of health than before, and the health of
nearly 47 million Americans will suffer because of it.
The food stamp cuts are of great concern for food pantries
and food banks across the nation. Many worry that demand will far exceed
supply. Spokespersons for various food banks have agreed that this demand will
require food lines to be cut once the maximum number of people has been served,
and food bags will have to be reduced in quantity and quality in order to serve
more people. Many are concerned that the lack of support through food
organizations will cause a major stepping stone to independent living to be
destroyed. This idea plays into the multi-faceted view of health. If one’s food
and nutrition needs are not taken care of, then many other aspects of life, such
as physical activity, caring for a family, and finding and maintaining a job,
will suffer.
