Ending Hunger Makes an Economic Impact

It's fair to say that the majority of people in Northern Virginia have enough to eat. In fact, we probably have too much to eat.

Yet, there is still a hunger problem in our community, our commonwealth and our country. Today at the Board of Directors meeting for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (I serve as the City's representative), my council colleague Jeff Greenfield made a presentation in his capacity as the manager of a program administered by the Department of Agriculture that seeks to get communities involved in ending hunger.

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)provides assistance for purchasing food for our fellow citizens who don't have enough to eat. It is the nation's largest anti-hunger program and "ensures that families and children get essential nutrition while also promoting local economic activity."

As Mr. Greenfield discussed in his presentation, the program not only helps people individually by providing them the food they need, but also helps local economies as people spend money on food in local grocery stores.

There are qualifications to be eligible for SNAP - for instance the annual income for a family of four can't be more than $28,668. But when these people get their money they spend it and that spending creates a multiplier effect - for every $5 in new SNAP benefits, $9 is generated in total community spending. Currently, SNAP distributes $490 million in assistance every year in the D.C. area.

The goal now is to get participation up in all jurisdictions across the country, but particularly here in the D.C. area. Based on eligibility, the City of Fairfax has a participation rate of .15%. But if that rate was boosted by 15%, the additional economic benefit would amount to $242,000. In Fairfax County, the participation rate is around 34% and boosting it by 15% would account for an additional $11.3 million.

With the economy - even in this area - still on shaky ground, there is a need out there for people to get the benefits they are entitled to and ensure that they and their families do not go to bed or wake up hungry.

Today COG took a step forward and committed to using its resources to help increase the SNAP participation rate and do its part in ending hunger. I'm certain the City will follow suit in finding ways to promote SNAP. More information about the SNAP program can be found here.

Let me also commend my colleague who doesn't talk about his day job that often, but should be commended for the work he does.