Impact of Pending SNAP Benefit Cuts on Food Security in Nebraska

Pending reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits pose significant risks to food security and essential services in Nebraska, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. These potential cuts threaten to reduce the capacity of organizations providing meals and support to those in need, with broader implications for community health and well-being.

Effects on Food Banks and Vulnerable Communities

The Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland served over 1.5 million meals across 93 counties in Nebraska and western Iowa last year, addressing the needs of many food-insecure individuals. According to Barbara Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, these cuts will disproportionately impact rural service providers and the populations they serve.

• Reduction in grocery access for food-insecure individuals
• Potential closure of food banks and hospitals
• Job losses in rural areas
• Increased travel distances for grocery shopping and medical care, exacerbating transportation challenges

Rising Food Insecurity Rates and National Implications

Food insecurity in Nebraska rose to nearly 12% in 2022, with the risk of further increases if SNAP cuts are implemented and states face additional financial burdens. Nationwide, at least 780,000 people could become food insecure should Congress approve reductions in SNAP funding.

Government Actions and Criticism

1. Washington lawmakers, under the Trump administration’s budget priorities, have aimed to reduce social service fraud and waste.
2. Feeding America’s Chief Government Relations Officer, Vince Hall, criticized the approach as an overreach that harms honest and vulnerable populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, and active-duty military families.
3. The House-passed spending plan includes significant SNAP cuts, while the Senate proposes smaller reductions; both have potential major impacts on social services.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The potential SNAP benefit cuts directly challenge several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – Reducing food assistance increases poverty risks for vulnerable populations.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Cuts threaten efforts to eliminate hunger and ensure food security.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Limited access to nutritious food and healthcare services undermines health outcomes.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Rural and marginalized communities face disproportionate impacts, exacerbating inequalities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Food banks and hospitals are critical community resources at risk of closure.

Addressing these challenges requires maintaining and strengthening social safety nets like SNAP to support vulnerable populations and advance sustainable development objectives.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article discusses food insecurity, meal provision, and the impact of SNAP benefit cuts on vulnerable populations, directly relating to ending hunger and ensuring access to safe, nutritious food.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article mentions potential impacts on medical care and hospitals, highlighting connections to health services and well-being.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty – The focus on vulnerable populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, ties to poverty reduction efforts.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights how cuts disproportionately affect rural areas and vulnerable groups, relating to reducing inequalities within and among countries.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty in all its dimensions.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Prevalence of Food Insecurity – The article cites Nebraska’s food insecurity rate of nearly 12% in 2022 and the potential increase in food insecurity nationwide if SNAP cuts are implemented. This corresponds to indicators measuring the proportion of population affected by food insecurity.
2. Number of Meals Served – The Food Bank for the Heartland served more than 1.5 million meals, which can be an indicator of food assistance reach and coverage.
3. Access to Health Services – The mention of potential hospital closures and increased travel distances to doctors implies indicators related to healthcare access and availability.
4. Impact on Vulnerable Populations – References to seniors, people with disabilities, and rural populations suggest indicators measuring social protection coverage and inequality metrics.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: publicnewsservice.org