Resolution 170829

..Title Calling on the United States Congress to fight hunger in Philadelphia by opposing any efforts to block grants, reduce funding, or structurally change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in any way that would negatively impact its recipients, and oppose efforts to cut other federally funded nutrition programs. ..Body WHEREAS, September is Hunger Action Month; and WHEREAS, More than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians struggle with hunger and food insecurity, 325,940 Philadelphia; and WHEREAS Philadelphia is the 10th hungriest city in America, with a poverty rate of 25.8% and a child poverty rate of 38%; and WHEREAS, More than half of American children experience food insecurity and receive help from SNAP before age 18, often due to unforeseen family circumstances, such as a parent or guardian's job loss, inadequate employment hours, divorce or family health issues; and WHEREAS, SNAP serves as a foundation to the first line of defense against hunger, helping more than 14% of Pennsylvanians buy groceries every month and lifting more than 13% of households out of poverty; and WHEREAS, 485,241 Philadelphia residents participate in SNAP, including 182,009 children, 69,144 seniors, and 72,821 persons with disabilities; and WHEREAS, SNAP brings an average of nearly $65 million per month in purchasing power to local residents, allowing them to supplement low-wages and fixed incomes and direct their limited income to other necessities; and WHEREAS, Philadelphians additionally rely on the Federal Food and Nutrition Programs beyond SNAP for Pennsylvania's state and local governments' anti-hunger efforts; and WHEREAS, The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides vital support to food banks and other charities in their efforts to help feed the most vulnerable Philadelphians; and WHEREAS, The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides boxes of specified foods to thousands of low-income Philadelphia senior citizens; and WHEREAS, Residents of Philadelphia care deeply about the problem of hunger, supporting the charitable food pantries and cupboards; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Calls on the United States Congress to fight hunger in Philadelphia by opposing any efforts to block grants, reduce funding, or structurally change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in any way that would negatively impact its recipients, and oppose efforts to cut other federally funded nutrition programs. ..End