Previously, households who did not receive LIHEAP (Low Income Heating & Energy Assistance Program) payments had to provide proof of the utilities they paid, and had those individual costs deducted from their gross income, which in turn assesses Food Share eligibility. Receivers of LIHEAP, however, had an automatic deduction of $308 off their gross income, which tended to be a lot more than individual utilities on their own. Following a similar program in Massachusetts, WISCAP was able to have the Department of Administration (who administers LIHEAP) make a nominal payment of $1 to all Food Share recipients, thus making them eligible for the automatic deduction!

What does this mean?

It’s estimated that 30% of households on Food Share in Wisconsin who weren’t previously receiving LIHEAP payments saw average increases of $50/month with the new changes, which took effect in April 2009. Furthermore, the Department of Health Services estimates that this will bring in $30 to $36 million annually in direct federal nutrition benefits, with a local economic impact for grocers and other retailers between $54 to $65 million per year.

The most obvious benefit here is to the Food Share recipient, who directly benefits from having more money in their monthly Food Share allotment. But the benefits are all around: case workers have less paperwork when they no longer have to ask for information about utilities. Local grocers and markets see more money coming through when their clientele has more to spend

As WISCAP Program Manager Jonathan Bader pointed out, “This is a win-win situation for low-income families, local communities and state government because it utilizes federal energy funds to bring in more federal nutrition funds, and increases the capacity of thousands of food insecure households to buy nutritious food at local grocery stores rather than utilizing emergency food providers.”  That sounds like a win-win to us. Great work to everyone involved!

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.

The 2008 Regional Hunger Forums and the subsequent 2009 Forums were designed to build on the ideas and discussions that began at the Summit and offer opportunities to meet others in your area that are combating hunger, from state policymakers to local volunteers.

Participants were welcome to attend more than one forum or to travel to a forum which best represents their local needs and concerns.

Attendees of all forums were encouraged to become familiar with Ending Hunger in Wisconsin prior to attending.

Summary of Hunger Forum evaluation data

• 90% of respondants said they increased their knowledge on the issues of hunger and food insecurity in their region.
• 80% of respondants said the Forums motivated them to contribute to a collaborative response to hunger.
• 53% of respondants said they had already viewed Ending Hunger in Wisconsin. Of those who had not, 85% were planning to view it after the Forum.
• When asked to commit to an action based on the information presented at the Forums, 100% of respondants listed an action. These included such ideas as: “Work for outreach on FoodShare, BC+, ACCESS,” “Educate the leaders in my company/area/community,” “Contact my legislator,” and “Work toward a community garden,” among many others.

The Commendation recognizes the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium as a statewide partnership of members of public and private agencies dedicated to the elimination of hunger and food insecurity in Wisconsin.  The Commendation further recognizes the Consortium for engaging stakeholders in a collaborative education and planning initiative to create and implement an Action Plan to Reduce Hunger in Wisconsin.