Coalition Community Update

Dear Friends,

After a year of transitions and transformation for our small, but mighty Coalition team, we are excited to share our FY2021-2022 Annual Report with you!

Here are some highlights:

  • We created a brand new role - SNAP Outreach & Hotline Counselor - as part of our work to reduce barriers for historically marginalized communities
  • We transitioned to a web-based phone system, allowing our SNAP Hotline Volunteers to answer calls live and growing our capacity to ensure SNAP Hotline callers receive the benefits they are eligible for
  • We helped families navigate P-EBT, the program that helps cover the cost of missed free and reduced price school meals due to COVID related closures or absences, by distributing a P-EBT Basics Flyer in 14 different languages and hosting an informational webinar.

We are very proud of this work and what our team was able to accomplish with your support this year. We hope you'll take some time to read about it.

The work to build a food secure Philadelphia region is a huge task that wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our Hunger Fighters!

 

Please donate to help us continue this life-changing work in the new year and eliminate food insecurity.

 

In The Community

The Coalition is back in the classroom! Our team led a thought-provoking and educational Hunger Simulation for our friends at the William Penn Charter School. Students learned about SNAP, the prevalence of food insecurity, and the difficult choices people experiencing food insecurity may need to make in order to fit their budget to their needs. 

If you’re interested in hosting a Hunger Simulation for your students, staff, or organization, reach out to our Community Educator Alison Volz at [email protected].

 

Policy and Advocacy

County Assistance Office (CAO) Reminders: We want to remind you about two very important changes regarding CAO offices.

1. The Ridge/Tioga CAO, located at 1350 Sedgley Avenue, Philadelphia, PA is permanently closed. Applicants who were previously served at this district were automatically assigned by zip code to one of three existing CAOs.

2. The office for assistance with the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has changed. Individuals can now receive LIHEAP assistance at 1163 S Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.

 

SNAP Benefit Reminders: To make sure that families are able to access and use SNAP benefits this holiday season, we want to remind you that the SNAP income guidelines were raised to 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines starting in October of this year. This increase to the SNAP income guidelines means more families might qualify for SNAP benefits.

SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs): Remember that all families receiving SNAP benefits also get a payment in the second half of the month, called an Emergency Allotment (EA). EAs bump SNAP participants up to at least the maximum benefit for their household size, and maybe more. SNAP EAs are currently being distributed for the month of December.

SNAP Hotline In Action

We recently submitted a SNAP application for a couple. They received notice that they were approved for SNAP benefits, but they would only receive $23 a month. When our SNAP Hotline Manager learned of this, she knew the couple should be eligible for more. While their unearned income was at the higher end of the income eligibility limit due to the Social Security Retirement benefits, they were both 60+ years old, which allows them to deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed $35/month to reduce their net income. This couple had very high medical expenses. When our SNAP Hotline Manager brought this to the attention of the County Assistance Office, the couple's monthly SNAP benefit was increased from $23 to $376.

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.

 MAKE A STAND AGAINST HUNGER!

  • Sign up to receive our up-to-date Advocacy Alerts. 
  • Shop our Coalition Against Hunger merchandise. We have water bottles, hats, hoodies, tank tops, and more, all benefiting our work to end hunger.
  • Make a donation or Become a Monthly Donor to support our work.
  • Use AmazonSmile to do your normal shopping on Amazon and a portion of your purchase will be donated to your charity of choice, at no additional cost to you! Get started by visiting smile.amazon.com and selecting the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger as your charity.

We strive to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. Hunger is preventable. Thank you for your continued support of our work! 

The Coalition Against Hunger Team  

 
 

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
123 Chestnut Street Suite 401 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
215-430-0555 | [email protected]

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