For the past three years, the federal government increased SNAP benefits through emergency pandemic funding. Starting this month, many low-income households with food insecurities will see less in their accounts, as the funding reverts back to pre-COVID levels. Dr. Katherine Alaimo, associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University, says we’re moving in the wrong direction.
“As we know, this program plays a critical role in the ability of the recipients to buy food,” says Alaimo. “Because of that, it’s important that we regularly look at ways to make the SNAP program better. For example, through increasing benefits and not reducing them.”
Organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest are calling on Congress to add $100-million to the Farm Bill to better fund the program. About 1.3 million Michiganders receive SNAP benefits.
