D.C. Hunger Solutions Commends Decision to Fund Give SNAP a Raise, Giving District Residents Much-Needed Additional Benefits to Put Food on the Table

Media Contact:  
Brittani Riddle  
202-640-1089, ext. 3039  
briddle@frac.org 

Statement attributable to LaMonika Jones, Director of D.C. Hunger Solutions 

WASHINGTON, January 4, 2024 — D.C. Hunger Solutions commends the decision from the Executive Office of the Mayor to fund Give SNAP a Raise. The allocated $39 million will give much-needed benefit boosts to the estimated 140,000 D.C. residents participating in SNAP, helping them put food on the table to get the nutrition they need.  

SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger. Many District residents are still feeling the effects of the end of pandemic-era SNAP Emergency Allotments, with many SNAP participants’ benefits dropping from $281 to $30 a month. Give SNAP a Raise is a major step forward in addressing the hunger cliff many residents are facing. The additional SNAP benefits will give participants greater flexibility and access to purchase nutritious food for their families and support our local retailers.   

We are grateful for the work of our fellow advocates, community partners, council members, and residents who fought for this legislation, recognizing that Give SNAP a Raise is a vital lifeline for populations at greater risk of hunger, including older adults and college students.   

No one living in the District should go hungry. As the District continues to work to improve our residents’ health and economic well-being, D.C. Hunger Solutions will continue advocating for solutions to end the hunger crisis in our city and will continue to be at the forefront of ending hunger in the nation’s capital.   

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About D.C. Hunger Solutions   
D.C. Hunger Solutions, founded in 2002 as an initiative of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), works to create a hunger-free community and improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income people in the District of Columbia. To learn more about D.C. Hunger Solutions, visit www.dchunger.org.