Arlington, VA – May 21, 2024 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander today issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the
Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024:
As a national organization working toward an America in which all seniors live nourished lives with independence and dignity, we are deeply concerned about how changes in the Farm Bill reauthorization proposal expected to be considered shortly by the House Agriculture Committee would negatively impact our nation’s seniors struggling with hunger.
At a basic, moral level, the Farm Bill should be measured by whether its policies and programs reduce hunger or exacerbate it. By preventing future adjustments for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to keep pace with the cost of a healthy, realistic diet, the problem of hunger among older adults will worsen over time.
The average monthly SNAP benefit for a senior living alone is $118 per month, or less than $4 per day. This modest benefit helps seniors living on fixed incomes who too often are forced to choose between paying for food, medicine, rent, utilities or other essentials.
If more older Americans face food insecurity because of cuts to SNAP, it will put greater pressure on senior nutrition programs that are already struggling to keep up with existing demand. In a recent survey, one in three Meals on Wheels programs reported keeping a waitlist, with seniors waiting on average three months for meals. Due to insufficient federal funding and recent cuts to the Older Americans Act, Meals on Wheels programs do not have the resources to address the increased need that would result from even small reductions to future SNAP benefits.
We urge the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and Congress at large to prioritize food security and oppose measures in the final Farm Bill that make cuts to future SNAP benefits or include any harmful policies that would worsen the problem of hunger for America’s older adults.
We look forward to working together on the successful reauthorization of a Farm Bill that makes strides toward reducing senior hunger and treats our aging neighbors with dignity and respect.
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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.