‘A national outrage’: Lawmakers seek solutions to food insecurity in military, veteran families
Karen Jowers
There’s scant information on how widespread the problem of hunger is among currently serving military families and veteran families, but there are some actions that could help those who are struggling to put food on the table, advocates told lawmakers.
One such suggestion is providing automatic SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, to service members in the lower ranks as they separate from the military, said Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University. She and other advocates participated in a roundtable discussion of hunger in the military and veteran communities before the House Rules Committee.
They discussed the stigma in asking for help that’s perceived by service members, veterans and their families; difficulties families face in qualifying for assistance; and lack of real data to quantify the extent of the problem.
https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2021/05/27/a-national-outrage-lawmakers-seek-solutions-to-food-insecurity-in-military-veteran-families/
