D.C. Hunger Solutions Applauds Introduction of No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act

202-640-1089

Statement attributable to Beverley Wheeler, Director, D.C. Hunger Solutions

WASHINGTON-December 1, 2021- D.C. Hunger Solutions commends the Council of the District of Columbia for introducing the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act to address the alarming rates of food insecurity among seniors in our city. We are grateful to Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh and her office for introducing the proposed legislation.

The District has the highest percentage of seniors who are food insecure in the nation, a staggering 14.3 percent. This is due to several factors, including barriers to accessing food and increased rates of social isolation.

This act will implement significant improvements to help connect older adults to nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP.)

Our seniors are a vital part of our community. This legislation is a critical step in addressing the needs of one of our most vulnerable populations and ensuring they receive the assistance they need in accessing healthy and nutritious food. We ask the Council to hold a public hearing on the act immediately.

Key provisions included in the No Senior Hungry Act include:

Establishing an Interagency Senior Food Insecurity Task Force to advise and work to implement policies and outreach to address Senior hunger
Requiring and developing a Senior Food Security Plan to improve District’s response to food insecurity
Increasing adult daycare participation in CACFP
Increasing senior SNAP participation

Read more about the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act online.

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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