FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jen Adach
PHONE: 202-986-2200 x3018
D.C. Department of Human Services Receives Bonus Awards for Outstanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Performance
September 28, 2010 – Washington, D.C –The D.C. Department of Human Services Income Maintenance Administration received bonus awards for both timeliness in processing SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) applications and overall program access in fiscal year 2009. This is the second consecutive year that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has honored the agency for its timeliness.
"SNAP is a lifeline for a growing number of District families,” said Alex Ashbrook, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions. “It's great that the District is being acknowledged nationally for its efforts to connect families to the critical income and nutrition support that SNAP provides. These bonus awards, totaling close to $900,000, can be reinvested to improve the already great SNAP work being accomplished and to ensure SNAP reaches every eligible individual.”
SNAP is one of the nutrition assistance programs overseen by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. It serves as a national safety net against hunger for nearly 41.3 million Americans each month. Working with USDA, D.C. has improved the reach and efficiency of the program, even as difficult economic conditions increase national program demands. Locally, more than 120,000 District residents (one in five) receive SNAP benefits.
“With recent poverty data showing that nearly one in five D.C. residents lived in poverty in 2009, we know that the federal nutrition programs are more important than ever. More District residents are relying on SNAP benefits, and it is important to recognize programs like SNAP that are effectively and consistently working to help families put healthy food on their tables,” noted Ashbrook.
“This is a program that is very important to many D.C. residents, and we urge our leaders in Congress to reject further attempts to cut SNAP benefits. The Senate passed a child nutrition bill that cuts SNAP benefits, but the House should fix this cut and pass a child nutrition bill that isn’t partially funded by SNAP,” said Ashbrook.
D.C. will receive a bonus award of $540,954 for best program access (which reflects state performance in reaching eligible participants) and $358,809 for timely application processing.
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