Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) changes income eligibilty rule

By Deb Stanley, ABC Denver 7

A change in income eligibility requirements in Colorado means thousands of families may now qualify for food assistance.

The Colorado Department of Human Services is increasing the income cut off to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in place of the previous 130 percent cut off, according to Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. 

"If you think about a family of three, a mom and two kids, mom had to make less than $35,000 for us to examine whether the family was eligible for food assistance. But now mom can make up to $40,00 for us to examine if she's eligible," explained Ki'i Powell, the Director of Colorado's Office of Economic Security.

New income eligibility in food assistance for working families

New income eligibility in food assistance for working families will fight poverty in Colorado allowing a small increase in income expected to help thousands
 
(Denver, July 30, 2018) – Changes to eligibility income levels for thousands of working families began recently in food assistance and are expected to provide an effective boost to Coloradans working their way out of poverty. The Colorado Department of Human Services is increasing the income cut off to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in place of the previous 130 percent cut off.  With the change, a family of two making just $33,000 a year will be eligible.
 
“We are thrilled to see this change because we believe that this small change will contribute greatly to ending hunger in our state,” said Jennifer Banyan, spokesperson for the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, a statewide effort to leverage and connect resources to ensure that no Coloradan is hungry.

The Daily Sentinel, SENTINEL STAFF

The Western Colorado Community Foundation is offering a new grant that will fund nonprofit agencies working to end hunger, part of their efforts to support the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger locally.

The foundation expects to use funds from its community grants endowment and donations from community partners to distribute $100,000 to local projects that increase access to healthy, local foods and improve food security for vulnerable populations. Preference will be given to projects that involve collaboration among multiple community groups. The deadline to apply is July 15.

"We hope that innovative projects in the seven counties we serve will be able to use these funds to make tangible, positive impacts in their communities," foundation spokesman Tedi Gillespie said. "We're excited to see what they do to combat what we know is a widespread problem."

The foundation manages more than 265 charitable funds totaling nearly $75 million in assets and awards more than $3.4 million in grants and scholarships annually. For information and to apply, visit wc-cf.org/nonprofits/grantmaking.

By Wyatt Hurt, Grand Junction Sentinel
Wyatt.Hurt@gjsentinel.com

Mount Garfield Middle School teacher Rachel Smith is no stranger to Mesa County’s widespread hunger problem; she sees it firsthand every day.

Twice a month, she spends hundreds of dollars at Sam’s Club, stocking a pantry in her classroom. Called “Gator-aid,” the pantry feeds a full spectrum of students, ranging from “hungry teenage boys” who want a snack to those who rely on the food to get them through the day.

“I think there are teachers feeding kids at every school. I’d be willing to bet that every teacher has given away their lunch at least twice,” Smith said.

She was one of the 70 attendees at Friday’s Mesa County Leadership Forum on Hunger, which brought together community leaders to brainstorm innovative solutions to end local hunger. Co-sponsored by the Colorado Health Foundation, the event was a first step in what the organizations hope will be a permanent solution to the problem.

EDITORIAL
The Daily Sentinel

Nobody has to go hungry in Mesa County, but many do despite the best efforts of local government and community-based nonprofits.

The problem is not lack of caring or attention. There are dozens of stories of food pantries, backpack programs, community gardens and food recovery networks all pitching in to feed the hungry in Mesa County. But they often work in silos.

Friday’s Mesa County Leadership Forum on Hunger aimed to change that. It was the first summit in the state to brainstorm innovative solutions to hunger and to discuss ways to implement the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger — a statewide initiative supported by six goals to end food insecurity in the state.

The summit was a way of getting Mesa County organizations on the same page. The discussion, as reported by the Sentinel’s Wyatt Hurt, centered on strengthening hunger relief organizations, addressing out-of- school hunger, increasing fresh produce for hunger relief, expanding recovery of food waste, involving health care providers and spreading public awareness.