Food Security Entitlements: Food Stamps and WIC
BACK TO: Food Security Issues
The rising number of people struggling to get adequate and nutritious food supply is startling. The need for food assistance and nutrition programs should not be increasing if the root societal problems were being addressed. Those who are able must step back and examine hunger and malnutrition from a broader perspective, asking why so many people continue to lack adequate food supplies and proper nutrition, and, more importantly, looking for ways to address these challenges and increase access to quality, nutritious foods for all.
An adequate and appropriate food supply for every person, household, and family is a public health issue. It should be addressed and acted upon locally, supported by federal programs. In the short-term it is critical to ensure that all food assistance and nutrition programs have adequate funding to deliver the benefits people need. In the longer-term, however, the move toward food security must involve local agriculture, local economies, public policies, and an investment to improve the quality of life when working with community development. Without these, an increase in federal funding for food assistance and nutrition programs will be only a band-aid and will fail to solve hunger, malnutrition and related health problems in the long run.
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
The new USDA name for the Food Stamp Program, SNAP, stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- New York State handout publications on SNAP Enrollment, in 6 languages
- USDA
SNAP Online Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool
Order page for free printed publications on the SNAP program
Other information on SNAP and nutrition
SNAP program FAQ
- WIC: Women, Infants and Children special supplemental food program
- CFSP: New York State Commodity Supplemental Food Program
- Brooklyn Healthy Food Campaign
A partnership of City and State governments, citywide service providers, grassroots organizations, and concerned citizens committed to improving community health and food security in the Borough of Brooklyn.
- FMNP: Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
- NYC Department of Health
“Health Bucks” program
- Public Advocate for the City of New York
Guide to Public Benefits for Immigrants in six languages
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of New York City
Eat Smart New York
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Education Program
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Food Stamps, Food Security and Public Health: Lessons from Minnesota
