Welcome

Welcome to the new homepage for the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium! This site will offer more flexibility to the Steering Committee in terms of providing current, up-to-date information.

www.endhungerwi.org

New York Times highlights soaring food stamp participation

Nov. 2009 – The New York Times ran a front page story on changes in food stamp use nationwide, along with associated changes in perceptions of the program.  Highlighted are the dramatic increases in participation, particularly in Wisconsin.  Read the full article here. View an interactive map (Select the “Change since 2007” button for a look at how Wisconsin’s increase compares to other states).

2010 FRAC Food Hardship Report

Feb. 2010 – An analysis of a Gallup survey by the Food Research and Action Center showed that in 2008 and 2009, 15.3% of Wisconsin residents reported that they didn’t have enough money to buy food that they needed at some time during the past year. This food hardship rate jumps to 20.9% for households with children. This first ever study of its kind includes analysis of food hardship for every state, and a breakdown for all 436 congressional districts and major metropolitan areas. While food hardship in this report is not defined or measured in the same way as food insecurity (and as such, rates of food hardship and food security cannot be directly compared) both provide real measures of families’ struggles. The full study can be found here.

LIHEAP Payments Mean Big News for FoodShare Recipients

November 2009 – Thanks to some strategic moves between WISCAP, the Department of Health Services, and the Department Of Administration, many households around the state saw an increase in their monthly Food Share benefits, which means millions of dollars of revenue to our community in the form of federal nutrition aid. Here’s what happened.

The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium addresses the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee

In April of 2009, the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium drafted a letter to Wisconsin State Senator Mark Miller and State Representative Mark Pocan, both members of the state’s Joint Finance Committee. The letter sought specific support for the following four points:

1. 1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide much-needed financial assistance to state programs and communities. If used wisely, ARRA will generate jobs for those unemployed and underemployed. Furthermore, investment in public transportation will facilitate both job growth and job retention for employees. Government initiatives that create and maintain employment are our state’s first line of defense against hunger and poverty. As households gain greater economic self-sufficiency, the demand on federal nutrition programs and emergency food providers declines.

   2. The Governor’s budget recommends ending state-funded FoodShare benefits for 800 low-income refugees and legal immigrants who are ineligible for the federal FS benefit due their immigrant status. Refugees and immigrants in our state were facing unique economic challenges prior to the significant downturn in our economy. We do not support this cut in badly needed nutrition to 800 low-income residents and ask for a reversal of this proposal and its subsequent impact on this vulnerable population.

   3. The School Breakfast Program and the School Lunch Program are slated to receive a cut of 1% in the Governor’s budget. While we understand the economic strain on our state budget, we must remember that school districts around the state are witnessing a spike in demand for these important nutrition programs. To school districts around the state, a cut of a few thousand dollars will impact the quality of food served and their ability to routinely provide meals to students in need.

   4. Continued support for the work of the Department of Health Services in administering FoodShare and TEFAP. It is essential that DHS be allowed to strengthen its outreach and access for these critical food programs.

2008/2009 Hunger Forums: A Success!

In the fall of 2008, the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium hosted four regional Hunger Forums as a follow up to the 2007 Wisconsin Hunger Summit. The Forums took place in Richland Center, Rhinelander, Racine, and Rice Lake. The success and positive feedback generated from each of these regions inspired two additional Forums in the Spring of 2009: in Superior and Wisconsin Dells.