Release No. 0492.99

Mary Beth Schultheis (202) 720-4623
marybeth.schultheis@usda.gov 

U.S. MAYORS TO JOIN USDA IN FOOD STAMP PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 1999 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced that the U. S. Conference of Mayors will partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that more of the nation's 36 million Americans who are hungry or on the brink of hunger can access food stamps.  The Food Stamp Program, funded by USDA and administered by the States, is the foremost nutritional safety net in the United States.

"With the best economy in years, there is no reason that millions of  Americans -- children, the working poor, the elderly, legal immigrants -- have to struggle to put food on the table," Glickman said. "Far too many people eligible for food stamps have not been taking advantage of this program."

Since 1995, USDA's food stamp rolls have declined by nearly 10 million people. The decline is due, in large part, to the robust U.S. economy and the 1996 welfare reform law. However, food stamp participation has declined three times faster than poverty, indicating that there are many people eligible for food stamps who may be living without sufficient food. 

Glickman today cited a newly released USDA study showing that in 1997, as welfare reform began to take effect, 37 percent of all the people eligible for food stamps were not participating in the program. The study concludes that many people are unaware that they may remain eligible for food stamps even after leaving other benefit programs. 

Burlington Mayor Peter A. Clavelle, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness, said "The U.S. Conference of Mayors will work with USDA to reach communities and individuals in need by expanding local outreach networks and distributing food stamp educational materials."

USDA and the U.S. Conference of Mayors will partner to develop additional strategies on food stamp public education efforts and to implement local action plans to reach more eligible food stamp participants. 

The USDA campaign, unveiled in August, includes posters, flyers, and brochures in English and Spanish. It centers around five compelling images targeting the three groups most under represented among food stamp recipients -- the working poor, the elderly, and legal immigrants. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has a toll-free number, 1-800-221-5689, to help people learn
more about food stamps and determine if they are eligible.

The new study, entitled "Trends in Food Stamp Program Participation Rates: Focus on September 1997," is on the web at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/newsroom.htm 

#

Back to the top