Minnesota Food Helpline

The current economic condition has increased the need for food assistance. Many Minnesotans have less income to spend on food due to rising unemployment rates, health care costs, and a generally deepening recession. Unfortunately without food assistance, families and senior citizens cut back on meals or the quality of the food they do eat.

Based on current statistics, HSM knows that hunger is on the rise in Minnesota. In 2009, visits to the food shelves in the Twin Cities metro area have increased 42% over last year. And statewide, food shelves have reported an average increase of 31%. The demand on local food shelves is overwhelming so HSM and its partner food shelves are recommending that Minnesotans also look into public program benefits. The Minnesota Food Helpline was created to help hungry families and seniors determine whether or not they might qualify for public program benefits. One of the main missions of the helpline is to reach the Minnesotans who may not realize they are eligible, are reluctant to participate, or experience difficulties during the application process.

One example of public benefits that may be available to families is the Food Support Program (recently renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP in Minnesota). This program provides low income families at risk for hunger with more choices, less stigma, self sufficiency and more consumer power. And due to an increase in food support benefits from federal stimulus money, the average benefit for Minnesotan families has increased by 13.5% since April 1st meaning that the average monthly benefit for a qualifying household is $195.58.

As of February 2009, statistic show that the numbers of Minnesotans enrolled in the Food Support Program is up 12.2% over last year. However, the state estimates that only 68% of those eligible for Food Support are participating in the program. The most overlooked group is Seniors with an estimated 80% of eligible seniors not enrolling due to a variety of barriers and misconceptions about eligibility. As mentioned previously, one major goal of the Minnesota Food Helpline is to reach this population that is eligible for benefits.

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