Albany, NY – Advocates Want to Rename Food Stamp Program to Avoid Stigma

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    Albany, NY – Anti-hunger advocates in New York want to change the name of the food stamps program to help avoid the stigma of receiving the benefit for the poor and working poor.

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    Assemblyman Jose Rivera of the Bronx says the stigma appears to be part of why many older New Yorkers eligible for the subsidy fail to take advantage of it. AARP says 23 states have changed the name of their food stamps program to SNAP. That stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

    The groups have released a report that says the name, as well as a finger printing requirement, are keeping hungry New Yorkers from getting the food they need.


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    28 Comments
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    DRE53
    DRE53
    12 years ago

    If anyone would refrain from receiving food stamps because of its name, they obviously have other sources of income to buy food. I’ve long argued that it’s ok for the food stamps office to have receipents wait in long lines, since this will discourage people who don’t really need it.

    ComeOn
    ComeOn
    12 years ago

    “as well as a finger printing requirement”
    So wanted criminals and illegal aliens aren’t collecting welfare bum stamps? Boo Hoo!
    Try getting a job and if you cannot, then please understand that whether you call it a stamp or a SNAP or an Obama handout, it’s all the same, Welfare!

    markisgold
    markisgold
    12 years ago

    What is the stigma in the words “Food Stamps” other than that we all know that it is a needs based program?

    Once people become accustomed to the name SNAP, then that name (SNAP) will be full of stigma.

    You can call the program Rose_Petals and once it becomes commonly known that Rose_Petals is a needs based program then THAT will bear a stigma.

    A name is a name is a name… concentrate on more important things than this narishkeit.

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    12 years ago

    According to the radio commercials I hear they have already renamed in the SNAP program. Actual coupons or “food stamps” ended over 8 years ago.

    Ahuvah54
    Ahuvah54
    12 years ago

    We needed food stamps last year and had it for awhile. In the end, someone from the food stamp office had me fax a form “by today,” which she obviously didn’t find, and we were cut off.
    I insisted to my husband that we not reapply.
    Do we have enough money?
    Yes, as long as we don’t pay rent. (I’m not kidding.)
    So get off your high horse. It’s an expensive city. One solution is we accept many invitations for yom tov meals and Shabbos meals.

    Longwave
    Longwave
    12 years ago

    The fingerprint requirement started a few years ago, and stopped a lot of the fraud in the program. Does Rivera want the fraud to come back? Doesn’t he know that NY already hanged the name???

    ModernLakewoodGuy
    ModernLakewoodGuy
    12 years ago

    The only problem with the name SNAP (supplemental nutritional) is that have you ever seen how some of these families spend their SNAP money? Soda, nosh, candy, chips. Nothing Supplemental or Nutritious about that.

    RebSimcha
    RebSimcha
    12 years ago

    Will they make a “Mee Sh’bairech” at the Sefer Torah when they’ll rename it???

    DRE53
    DRE53
    12 years ago

    To all of you who didn’t understand my first comment, let me explain.
    The gemara in kesubos (don’t remember the daf, but it’s in perek 5) says that we should thank the fakers that because of them we have an excuse not to have rachmoos on the poor.
    The same thing with food stamps. There are many many people who collect food stamps although their not eligible or don’t need it. By making it a bit uncomfortable, some might refrain from doing so.
    It’s just too bad we live in such a world.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    It doesn’t need a name change. In the heimeshe neighborhoods, there is unfortunately no stigma to taking more and more government handouts. In fact, its viewed as an “entitlement” that helps sustain big families. Keep the name…the more busha the less likely people will rely on government handouts and either get a parnassah that pays their bills or manage their family situation so they can afford to feed themselves.

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    12 years ago

    I believe the comments of #9 are a perfect example that the system stinks and those really in need at times get the short end of the stick. The system …call it what you want has holes in it and needs repair. There are cheats, but I rather wait for those beating the system to be caught than to have to read about the serious problems that #9 posted. Organizations such as Masbia need to be supported in order to help those who really need a hand. Hunger is nothing to make light of and negative comments are really out of line.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    12 years ago

    I was in the bakery a while ago on a Thursday. The old lady in front of me did not have enough $$$ to pay for what she needed for shabbat. She took what she needed and was going to come back. While she was gone, I paid the difference so all she had to do was pick up her bundle. The old lady lives on minimum Social Security. When you finish paying rent, telephone and minum food for the month by the end of the month you starve!!This lady was skin and bones!!

    12 years ago

    get a job if u dont want to feel ‘stigmatized’

    speakup
    speakup
    12 years ago

    (Reply to #21 ): Boy are you cynical. What I got out of #19 ’s comment is the inspiration to notice another person’s plight and help. And #19 did it as unobtrusively as possible. Mitzvah accomplished.
    What you got, for reasons best known only to you, is a chance to mock and poke fun. Yuck.