Maryland’s Fight Against Hunger is Not Over

In the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the world, no one should go hungry. Yet, too many Maryland families still struggle to afford enough to eat. Federal- and state-funded food assistance could be at risk in the coming year and it is critical that we protect this cost-effective, necessary support for thousands of Maryland residents.

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The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) leads the way in ensuring families don’t go hungry, but the program requires adequate government funding in order to do so. SNAP provides an average benefit of $1.35 per person per meal for households with children receiving assistance. In 2012 the program kept 10.3 million people out of poverty including 4.9 million children. Not included in that figure are the thousands of people in our state who are likely eligible for food assistance but don’t receive it.

One in eight households in Maryland faces a constant struggle to put food on the table. Nearly 21 percent of our households with children can’t afford enough food to provide regular, healthy meals for their family. Hunger causes a slew of negative outcomes, especially for children. Kids living in households where they do not have reliable access

to enough food are less healthy, experience a much greater risk of developmental delays, and are 30 percent more likely to be hospitalized. These realities have long-term effects on the next generation and make it harder for them to succeed later in life.

By providing targeted benefits to those who need them most, the food assistance program also drastically reduces the harmful effects of poverty. One in five children in Maryland receives support from SNAP. Research shows that SNAP recipients are less likely to have to make tough choices between paying for food and paying for other basic necessities like health care, housing, heat and electricity. Children in communities with access to SNAP also have high school completion rates 18 percent higher and obesity rates 16 percent lower than their counterparts in areas without access to this critical assistance. This is great news for the future those young people, and a better educated population also benefits our economy as a whole.

As we sit down to enjoy holiday meals this season, let us not lose sight of the fact that many Marylanders can’t afford three basic meals a day – let alone a holiday feast. SNAP is a proven, effective tool in the fight against hunger, and we cannot afford to lose this investment in our community.