Food Stamps! Stamps! Stamps!!!

Terms to Know: FSP- Food Stamp Program
Food Security- measures a household's access to food that provides a nutritionally adequate diet for its members.



In these hard times it is crucial that people have the security and stability every family needs. It is important that everyone have access to the resources he/she needs for basic survival. The advancement of public assistance and the food stamp program help provide federal aid seeking families with the food security they need, but, there are some eligible particpants who do not take advantage of the opportunity bestowed before them. In 2000-2001, the Economic Research Service of the U.S Department of Agriculture funded a national study of FSP accessibility at the local level. In this study, the ERS collected information describing the policies and practices in local food stamp offices, the characteristics of participant and nonparticipant households, answered the question why some eligible households do not participate in the FSP.

Studies show that a decrease in food security occured between the years 1996 and 2001. In 1996, 34% of FSP nonparticipant households were food insecure and 14% of that group were food insecure with hunger. That number has increased since then and now 45% of FSP nonparticipants households are food insecure, and 25% of those are food insecure with hunger.

91% of eligible nonparticipant households do not participate in the FSP because they hold a desire for personal independence. I can agree with the notion of wanting to feel financially accomplished as a moral human being but if you are someone who lacks the experience and prerequisites to be monetarily secure, then you should have no shame and reach out for assistance. That is what programs such as the FSP are there for. They are governmented funded programs meant to provide people with the help they need. The people, then, have to be willing to accept.