Dear Friends,

We are excited to have our team back out in the community at local events after a long period of virtual work due to COVID-19. We're visiting schools, senior centers, other organizations, and anywhere else we can make a stand against hunger. During these events we conduct hunger simulations, educate our community on food insecurity, and share important information about accessing public benefits such as SNAP.

Did you know that 18% of eligible individuals are not receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits? We call this the SNAP Gap, which we work to lessen through our outreach work in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table at the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival earlier this month! We'll be at the School District of Philadelphia's Back-To-School Bus Tour Mega-Events on 8/5, 8/10, 8/16, and 8/20. Come visit our table to learn more about the Coalition Against Hunger and our work connecting people with food resources.

If you know of an opportunity where we could interact with the community or your organization, please reach out to our Community Educator, Alison Volz at [email protected].

SNAP Hotline

Another way we are working to close the SNAP Gap is through the work we do on our SNAP Hotline where we help clients navigate the SNAP application or renewal process as quickly and as easily as possible. 

One tool that our Hotline team uses when applicable is the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP). The ESAP is a shorter, less complicated version of the SNAP application, and it is used for our senior and disabled clients. With so many clients unable to get to the County Assistance Office (CAO) due to physical limitations or Covid concerns, the ESAP can make a big difference. After an ESAP application is submitted and processed by the county office, the client can relax knowing that this process will not have to repeat itself for a full 3 years, at which time the Hotline team will be waiting to assist with the renewal process. 

SNAP Hotline in Action 

The SNAP Hotline recently helped a client who operates a wheelchair and has limited use of her eyesight. Claire, our SNAP Hotline Counselor, used the ESAP application on this client’s behalf, since her benefits had been terminated due to late application submission. Claire explained the application format and how it would result in less interruption of benefits. The client was elated to know this was even possible. Imagine what the undertaking of a visit to the CAO was for this client. Knowing she could use the ESAP was such a big relief that it moved her to tears. The client received her monthly allotment a short time later and referred others in her building to the SNAP Hotline. 

If you would like assistance from our SNAP Hotline team, they are available to help Monday – Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Give our SNAP Hotline team a call at 215-430-0556. Asistencia también disponible en Español. 

Policy and Advocacy

Federal Public Health Emergency: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced another 90-day extension of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) from July 15, 2022 – October 13, 2022. SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs), the extra SNAP dollars that households get in the second half of the month, are tied to the federal PHE. Because it has been extended, the Department of Human Services (DHS) can seek approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue distributing EAs in Pennsylvania for at least a few more months. Pennsylvania is currently completing the distribution EAs for the month of July. 

SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs): On that note, USDA has approved Pennsylvania’s request to issue EAs in August. For more information, see our EA Flyer for August. 

P-EBT Card Issue: Did your P-EBT card get deactivated last week? The PA Dept. of Human Services (DHS) let us know that some P-EBT cards were inadvertently deactivated when they went to issue the Stage 2 benefits. This appears to primarily be affecting people who didn’t get a Stage 1 P-EBT payment for the 2021-2022 school year and were supposed to get their first payment in July for December-February absences.

DHS will be replacing all of the deactivated cards automatically. New cards should be received in approximately two to three weeks, depending on the post office.

Because of this, there is a delay in DHS’s completion of the 2nd round of P-EBT issuances, which they now expect will be completed by the evening of July 29, 2022. For more information about P-EBT for the 2021-2022 school year, visit Just Harvest’s Frequently Asked Questions Page. 

Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act: Last week, the House Committee on Education and Labor unveiled the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, the Committee’s much anticipated Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill. This bill will provide Congress with the chance to improve and strengthen child nutrition and school meal programs. We are so excited that the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act contains many important nutrition program expansions that will address rising rates of child hunger and increase access and participation in federal child nutrition programs. Among other important provisions, this act would:

• Expand “community eligibility”, allowing more schools to offer free meals to all students at no cost. 
• Create a nationwide Summer EBT program to support child nutrition during the summer months when children lose access to school meals. 
• Modernize the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by requiring WIC clinics to allow remote benefit issuance and offer services over the phone and via video options.

We are so excited to see these and many other important provisions included in this act. 

LIHEAP/LIHWAP Office Relocation: On July 18th, the Philadelphia office that processes the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) relocated to 1163 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia PA 19147. This new location will be open Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm. As a reminder, LIHEAP season has ended, but the office will continue to serve those interested in applying for LIHWAP until further notice.