पूर्व कर्मचारी सदस्य डेरिक कोनार्ड द्वारा
प्रकाशित गरिएको छ स्कट्सब्लफ स्टार-हेराल्ड, फरवरी। 25, 2023
प्रकाशित गरिएको छ उत्तर प्लेट टेलीग्राफ, फरवरी। 28, 2023
अमेरिकी कृषि विभागले जारी गरेको एक अध्ययनले २०१८ र २०२० को बीचमा नेब्रास्कामा लगभग १,२०,००० घरपरिवारले खाद्य असुरक्षाको सामना गरेको अनुमान गरेको छ। एजेन्सीले खाद्य असुरक्षालाई घरपरिवारका प्रत्येक व्यक्तिलाई सक्रिय र स्वस्थ जीवन बिताउन पर्याप्त खानामा निरन्तर पहुँचको अभावको रूपमा परिभाषित गर्दछ।
In 2021, leaders in Nebraska took note. That year, the Nebraska Legislature expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to hundreds of additional families by increasing the gross income eligibility limit to 165% of the federal poverty level. But the change is set to expire on Sept. 30.
Legislators now have the opportunity to make it permanent. On March 2, the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will have a hearing on Legislative Bill 84.
Introduced by Sen. Jen Day, the bill comes at a time when food prices continue to rise. These price increases are especially damaging to rural residents who tend to face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, compared to those living in urban areas.
In Lincoln County, 61% of the population falls below the 165% federal poverty level threshold. Scotts Bluff County’s rate is 68%. Garden County has the highest rate in the area, at 77%, while Sheridan and Keith counties are at 69% and 61%, respectively.
In comparison, 59% of the residents living in Douglas County, which includes the city of Omaha, qualify for SNAP benefits.
In 2021 more than 157,000 Nebraska residents— or 1 in 12— received SNAP benefits. More than 72% of Nebraska SNAP users are families with children, while 30% are in households with seniors or people with disabilities. Participants between the ages of 16 and 59 must work to be eligible for benefits, unless otherwise specifically exempt.
Making the SNAP gross income eligibility permanent will allow Nebraska families and workers the stable food security they need while pursuing better work, and it would encourage workforce advancement, which is good for the local communities and economies.
SNAP is also an important economic driver in rural economies. Economists estimate that for every dollar a household spends through SNAP, about $1.70 in economic activity is generated. That money can help a small-town grocery store keep its doors open and, in so doing, support what may be the only place to buy fresh food for miles.
हामी उच्च जीवनयापन खर्चको सामना गर्दै गर्दा, हाम्रो समुदायमा उपलब्ध स्रोतहरू र थप सहयोग कहाँ आवश्यक छ भन्ने बारे सोच्नु महत्त्वपूर्ण छ। सँगै काम गर्दै, हामी प्रत्येक नेब्रास्कावासीसँग खानाको प्रबन्ध गर्न आवश्यक स्रोतहरू छन् भनी सुनिश्चित गर्न सक्छौं।
