DENVER (Sept. 27, 2020) – According to a recent survey by Hunger Free Colorado, more than 29 percent of Coloradans are food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to nutritious food, a rate that has tripled since the start of COVID-19. Parents, people of color and those with disabilities face even higher rates of food insecurity. The survey found that 38 percent of non-white and Latinx individuals are currently struggling to put food on the table, compared to 25 percent of white Coloradans. Additionally, almost half of those living with a disability are facing hunger, with many reporting that they struggle to access food due to the high cost of healthy items and a lack of transportation.

The poll, repeated quarterly, surveyed 550 Coloradans across the state to find out how the pandemic has impacted their access to food and economic security. Hunger remains a top concern for almost 1 in 5 Colorado households. Compared to the July poll, general rates of hunger have remained steady, but there have been some improvements around child hunger.

Currently, forty five percent of households with children are food insecure and nearly half of parents reported that they were okay prior to COVID-19 but now worry about covering expenses in the next few weeks or months. Despite these startling statistics, fewer parents had to skip or cut back on their children’s meals, in addition to their own, to make ends meet, dropping from 23 percent from July to 13 percent in September. This could be due to concerted outreach to Colorado families about resources to get nutritious food during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, including vital programs such as universal school meals and Pandemic EBT.

“We’re glad that Congress has continued school meals program flexibilities to make it easier for families to provide meals for their children, but pandemic-related school closures are still creating barriers to access for many students. The extension of Pandemic EBT through the school year can play a critical role in filling the gap,” said Marc Jacobson, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado, a leading nonprofit anti-hunger organization. “The next step for Congress is to invest in strengthening SNAP, as well as other nutrition and economic supports, to ensure those impacted by COVID-19 have the help they need until our economy recovers.”

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a proven and effective tool to assist low-income households and provide counter-cyclical help in recessions. SNAP provides recipients with funds to purchase food at local grocery stores, helping families get needed nutrition and providing an economic boost for our state.

Based on these findings, Hunger Free Colorado is calling on Congress to prioritize food assistance in the current relief package. Thousands of Coloradans have joined Hunger Free Colorado in this call to action through mail, phone calls and emails. Hunger Free Colorado has the following key recommendations:

Key Recommendations:

• Increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent for long term economic needs of Coloradans and continue emergency allotments through the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help families afford the food they need to make it through the coming months.
• Continue and improve funding for emergency food systems through the economic crisis caused by COVID-19.
• Continued outreach to Coloradans about food assistance programs as some experience food insecurity for the first time due to the economic and health impacts of the pandemic.

“We need to strengthen vital programs that can provide Coloradans with access to nutritious food to weather this pandemic,” stated Jacobson. “Congress should include these recommendations in the current relief bill as an investment in our families and in our communities.”

View the poll findings from September or July and learn about the issue of hunger in Colorado online at HungerFreeColorado.org.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (October 31, 2019) – Kathy Underhill is a nationally recognized leader and policy expert in solving hunger and was the founding CEO of Hunger Free Colorado. To honor her legacy, Hunger Free Colorado’s board of directors created the Kathy Underhill Scholarship Award to recognize an individual leading change as it relates to hunger and healthy food access. Fatuma Emmad, co-founder of FrontLine Farming, was selected as the first-year award recipient.

“Fatuma is a social justice warrior who also eloquently and beautifully expresses her passion for making healthy food accessible to all,” said Olga Gonzalez, executive director of Cultivando and selection committee member. “She demonstrates a genuine interest not only in cultivating the land but also in cultivating meaningful relationships among diverse people who come from all walks of life and from various countries and cultures.”

The spirit of the Kathy Underhill Scholarship Award is to recognize a community member who is changing hearts and minds in the hunger space with advocacy, policy, or community engagement through the lens of health equity. It comes with a $1000 scholarship to be used for professional development related to the awardee’s career and work within the hunger space. Fatuma Emmad was selected from a strong group of nominees by a committee composed of Hunger Free Colorado board members, community advocates, and the award namesake, Kathy Underhill.

In Emmad’s reception speech she shared:
We know that our food system is broken. We don’t need statistics to know racism is alive and well and centers itself in our most powerful weapons. Food is a weapon…We have created systems in which those who are the most abused by it are not allowed into the room where policies are made…I am proud to stand here with you all, my colleagues, because as we know that food is a weapon, it is also a shield…I lean on the history of the many women who have made their kitchens a space for us all to be authentically ourselves and to be fed. They showed us how to communicate love through food.

Fatuma Emmad is the co-founder of FrontLine Farming, a food and farmer advocacy group focusing on food growing, education, sovereignty and justice in the Front Range, and affiliate professor at Regis University in the Community Food Systems minor. Fatuma was born in Denver and raised in Denver and Ethiopia. Fatuma is currently entering her tenth year as a farm manager or farm operations director. Before becoming a farmer, Fatuma was a political scientist who engaged in issues affecting marginalized farming communities. She’s currently a member of the Sustainable Food Council for the City of Denver, a co-chair for the City’s Good Food Purchasing Policy Group and is a selected fellow for Transformational Leaders for Change.

For a photo of Fatuma Emmad receiving the award visit: bit.ly/fatumaHFC
(Photo of Jana Henthorn, Hunger Free Colorado Board Member, Fatuma Emmad, award recipient, Kathy Underhill, Hunger Free Colorado founding CEO)

About Hunger Free Colorado

Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization, connects people to food resources to meet existing needs and drives policy, systems and social change to end hunger. Learn more at HungerFreeColorado.org.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

“More than one in eleven Coloradans face times when there’s not enough money to buy food, but we can change that because hunger is solvable and the resources exist,” said Marc Jacobson, CEO for Hunger Free Colorado. “We are so pleased to have Whole Foods Market as a generous supporter and strong partner to connect more Coloradans—from children to older adults—to the nutritious food that they need to thrive.”

The awarded funding will support Hunger Free Colorado in launching a robust Farm to Food Pantry Initiative while enabling the organization’s ongoing efforts to connect Coloradans to food resources.

“We are proud to continue to support Hunger Free Colorado’s life-changing work throughout the state, connecting our communities to vital resources and food security,” said Sarah Palki, Senior Marketing Specialist at Whole Foods Market Rocky Mountain Region. “Together, with partners like Hunger Free Colorado, we are able to celebrate and strengthen our communities throughout the state, which is a core value for our brand and the foundation of Whole Foods Market.”

Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization connects people to food resources to meet existing needs and drives policy, systems and social change to end hunger.

“Thanks to Whole Foods Market, we will continue to make significant progress in creating a healthier, stronger state where no Coloradan goes hungry anytime of the year,” shared Jacobson.

To learn more about the issue and solutions surrounding hunger in Colorado and how you can take action, visit HungerFreeColorado.org.
 

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (July 9, 2018) – As we near the mid-point of summer break, many parents are filling time with summer activities at school, trips to the pool, and games at the local park or recreation center. What many parents do not know, is many of these locations offer free, nutritious meals for kids and teens throughout the summer.

The summer meal program, federally known as the Summer Food Service Program, is funded by the USDA and was established to serve as a nutritional safeguard for children when school is not session. In Colorado, it is administered by the Colorado Department of Education and supported by Hunger Free Colorado, dozens of sponsors and hundreds of Colorado organizations that are providing summer meals in their communities and neighborhoods. This summer, more than 600 community sites across Colorado will provide meals to youth up to 18 years old at no cost.

“Summer can be a challenging time for youth who have lost access to school breakfast and lunch,” said Kathy Underhill, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado. “Keeping children fueled through the summer months with free, healthy meals ensures they return to school ready to learn and is part of a strong foundation for health and well-being.”

Community sites such as churches, schools and recreation centers offer free breakfasts, lunches, suppers and/or snacks that meet federal nutrition guidelines, as well as fun, engaging activities for children to exercise their minds and their bodies. There are no income or registration requirements for participation.

“The summer meals program positively impacts children’s growth and development, and sponsors of this program help ensure all children in Colorado have access to healthy meals during the summer,” said Bre Riley, director of the Office of School Nutrition with the Colorado Department of Education. “Last summer, close to 1.5 million meals were served and we hope to see even greater numbers this summer based on sponsors’ innovative and collaborative strategies to reach more children across the state.”

Increasing awareness and access to the summer food program is a priority for the state, in addition to boosting the academic success and well-being of Colorado children. Thanks to the involvement of partners across the state, Colorado has been able to open additional meal locations for 2018, particularly in rural areas.

Colorado families can find nearby summer meal sites by calling the statewide food resource hotline at (855) 855-4626, texting “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 or by using an interactive map at KidsFoodFinder.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (July 2, 2019) – School is out, and pools are open; two signs that summer has arrived. For children, this is an exciting time of playing with friends at the park and perfecting their cannon ball. Yet, for many Colorado students, summer presents a difficult challenge – how to fill their bellies in the absence of school meals. In response, more than 650 community locations across Colorado are offering fun activities and free, nutritious meals and snacks to kids and teens throughout the summer.

The summer meal program, federally known as the Summer Food Service Program, is funded by the USDA and was established to serve as a nutritional safeguard for youth when school is out. In Colorado, it is administered by the Colorado Department of Education and supported by Hunger Free Colorado, as well as hundreds of Colorado organizations that are providing summer meals in their communities and neighborhoods. This summer, youth up to 18 years old can get nutritious meals and snacks from a variety of neighborhood locations at no cost.

“We know access to healthy food sets youth up for better health and habits as adults and is a strong foundation for overall well-being,” said Marc Jacobson, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado. “The summer meals program ensures kids and teens are fueled while school is out, so they can remain active, healthy and ready to learn.”

Community locations such as recreation centers, churches, parks and schools and offer free breakfast, lunch, supper and/or snacks that meet federal nutrition guidelines, as well as fun, engaging activities for kids and teens to exercise their minds and their bodies. There are no income or registration requirements for participation.

“The summer meal program ensures that kids and teens have access to healthy meals during the summer which is critical for their health and well-being.” said Ashley Moen, summer meals program supervisor with the Colorado Department of Education. “Last summer, over 1.5 million meals were served, and we hope to see even greater numbers this summer based on sponsors’ innovative and collaborative strategies to reach more children across the state.”

Thanks to the involvement of partners across the state, Colorado has been able to open and expand meal locations for 2019, particularly in rural areas.

Colorado families can find nearby summer meals by calling the statewide food resource hotline at (855) 855- 4626, texting “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 or by using an interactive map at KidsFoodFinder.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (March 27, 2019) – Colorado is known as a state for healthy, active lifestyles, yet one in eleven Coloradans struggles with hunger. Food stamps provide a solution by helping people of all ages weather life’s storms while improving health and well-being among participants and bringing millions of dollars into local economies.

Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger, released its fourth annual “Food Stamp Impact Reports” for all 64 counties today. The reports detail the efficiency and effectiveness of the state-supervised, county-administered program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, by examining enrollment, economic impact and performance in each county across the state.

Food stamps are our nation’s first line of defense against hunger and ensure families and individuals can access the healthy, affordable food needed to help them thrive. The program provides modest monthly funds for food purchases at grocery stores and farmers markets—averaging $1.40 per person, per meal. National research links food stamps to enhanced academic performance, better long-term health and increased economic security for those who receive the assistance.

“Hunger is an issue we can and must solve to ensure the well-being of all Coloradans,” said Marc Jacobson, CEO of Hunger Free Colorado. “Healthy food helps children grow and excel in school, increases productivity in the workforce and keeps older adults stable and independent. Investing in strong federal nutrition programs is an investment in our communities and state economy.”

The newly released Food Stamp Impact Reports examine outcomes at a county level. The reports compare each county’s performance with the state averages for participation and economic impact, as well as national standards for timely and accurate application processing. The analysis follows the same method as the USDA performance measures used to award bonuses to well-performing states.

Highlights from the released data include:

• Colorado was awarded more than $2 million in federal performance bonuses in 2016 and 2017 for timeliness and accuracy in the Food Stamp Program, meaning clients are getting benefits faster.
• Colorado ranks 43rd in the nation for access to food stamps with only 60 percent of those eligible getting the nutritious food they need, which falls below the national average of 73 percent for enrollment.
• Food stamps support local businesses like grocers, ranches and farms; benefits brought more than $700 million to local Colorado economies in 2017 at an amplified economic impact of more than $1.25 billion.
• Colorado leaves millions of federal dollars on the table and loses more than $232 million annually in grocery sales.

“Our state has more than enough resources to ensure individuals and families in Colorado have consistent access to nutritious food,” said Jacobson. “Now is the time for state and local counterparts to come together to build a strong, effective food assistance program that removes barriers and improves access to healthy, affordable food, creating a strong foundation for all Coloradans.”

Based upon the available data and research, Hunger Free Colorado recommends the following to benefit all in the state:

• Embrace food stamps as a tool for promoting well-being and economic growth for Colorado families and our state.
• Prioritize full enrollment of families and individuals with limited incomes in Colorado’s Food Assistance Program.
• Increase collaboration between counties to identify and implement best practices, such as extended office hours, investing in outreach or using collaborative workflow management systems.
• Utilize these reports as an advocacy tool for better policies and practices around food stamp enrollment and to better understand opportunities in Colorado communities.

“Thanks to hard work across our state, enrollment in food stamps has improved over last year and more counties are adopting innovative practices to increase access to the program,” shared Jacobson. “Yet, we still have a long way to go before every Coloradan has the fuel they need to reach their full potential.”

View the Food Stamp Impact Reports for Colorado counties and all sources at HungerFreeColorado.org/Impact-Reports.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

More than 450,000 Coloradans rely on food stamps each month to afford groceries and meet basic nutritional needs for themselves or their families. While the USDA has ensured food stamp funding through February, there is uncertainty about how federally funded nutrition programs will function in March. These vital programs include food stamps (federally known as SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and free and reduced-price school meals.

Many Coloradans received their February food stamp benefits early due to the shutdown, meaning they will need to stretch their limited food assistance dollars weeks longer than usual with no certainty of when their next benefit payment will arrive. If the shutdown stretches on, 1 in 12 Coloradans – including children, parents, older adults, and people with disabilities – could have their food assistance cut in March. As a result, the Colorado economy would miss out on $55 million in food stamp benefits each month. Nationally, this loss would impact more than 250,000 supermarkets, grocery stores and other retailers that participate in the Food Stamp Program.

In addition to threatening vital nutrition programs and the health of our communities, the shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay. Between the missed paychecks of federal employees and contractors, and the long period between uncertain food stamp payments, food banks and food pantries are facing a severe uptick in demand for their services. It is important now more than ever to support organizations in your community on the frontlines of fighting hunger.

The government shutdown is harming Coloradans who are already struggling to make ends meet. If the shutdown continues, the damage will only worsen. Hunger Free Colorado calls on lawmakers in Washington D.C. to fund the federal government to avoid further harm to hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (January 10, 2019) – Hunger Free Colorado announced today that its board of directors has chosen Marc Jacobson as the organization’s next chief executive officer. Jacobson, who currently serves as the Dallas Regional Director and Statewide Organizing Director for Baylor University’s Texas Hunger Initiative will succeed Kathy Underhill, the organization’s founder and prior CEO, on February 11.

“Hunger Free Colorado has long been a catalyzing force in the anti-hunger space, and the board is pleased to have chosen Marc to build on our strong foundation as a national leader and partner in addressing hunger,” said Gwénaël Hagan, chair of Hunger Free Colorado’s board of directors. “Marc’s extensive experience in anti-hunger work, as well as his proven track record in public policy and community engagement, makes him uniquely qualified to lead Hunger Free Colorado into the next exciting chapter for our organization.”

Hunger Free Colorado employed a national search firm for the selection of its next chief executive officer. A large initial prospect pool of nearly 100 applicants was narrowed by stages to a group who interviewed with the board’s search committee, and then to a final round who met with the full staff and board. Jacobson was found to be the best choice from a deep pool of interested and highly qualified candidates.

“I am thrilled to be joining Hunger Free Colorado, an organization with a demonstrated record of success, widespread community support and an urgent mission. No one should lack the consistent nourishment needed to be healthy, to learn and to thrive,” said Jacobson. “Hunger is an issue we can and must solve to ensure the well-being of all Coloradans. I look forward to working with Hunger Free Colorado’s very talented and passionate staff and board, as well as our many volunteers and community partners, to end hunger together.”

Jacobson brings extensive knowledge of anti-hunger work from his tenure at Baylor University’s Texas Hunger Initiative (THI). He led capacity-building efforts to increase access to food stamps, federally known as SNAP, oversaw the creation of model initiatives to boost participation and program delivery quality in federal child nutrition programs, spearheaded campaigns to educate and advocate on hunger policy, and guided the development of local anti-hunger coalitions in rural and urban communities across Texas. Prior to joining THI, Jacobson worked on a variety of justice and equity issues that intersect with hunger. He co-founded the Anti-Poverty Coalition of Greater Dallas, which started a successful city-by-city initiative to regulate payday lenders. He also served as Director of the Texas Fair Trade Coalition, where he led campaigns to combat sweatshops and promote fair wages. As a community organizer in Texas, California and Massachusetts, Jacobson supported grassroots leaders in advocating for high quality K-12 education, immigrant rights and affordable housing. Jacobson holds a bachelor’s in History from Yale University and a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

For a photo of Marc Jacobson visit: http://bit.ly/CEOMarc

About Hunger Free Colorado

Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization founded in 2009, leads efforts to connect families and individuals to food resources and fuels change in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry. By leveraging the power of collaboration, innovation and partnership, Hunger Free Colorado eliminates barriers to the access of affordable, nutritious food and brings a unified, statewide voice to the issue and solutions surrounding hunger. Some key initiatives include a statewide food resource hotline and mobile services, Hunger Through My Lens and the Colorado Food Pantry Network. Learn more at HungerFreeColorado.org.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

DENVER (December 12, 2018) – A new report endorsed by a broad coalition of Denver leaders provides a roadmap to help the City and County of Denver enroll more low-income residents in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and access funding to prevent hunger, improve health and well-being and boost the local economy. Hunger Free Colorado estimates that in 2016 more than a third (36%) of low-income individuals in Denver missed out on SNAP benefits. The Denver SNAP Task Force, which developed the new report, set a goal of closing the Denver SNAP gap by enrolling 80 percent of low-income Denver residents. This would bring nearly $16 million per year to more than 20,000 low-income Denver residents and generate an additional $28 million in local economic activity.

The Denver SNAP Task Force was composed of public, private and nonprofit sectors, including health, education, government, philanthropic and community-based partners, food retailers and people with direct experience of hunger and SNAP. The Task Force was convened by Hunger Free Colorado, Food Research & Action Center and The Food Trust, and co-chaired by Todd Jorgensen, deputy executive director for assistance at Denver Human Services, and Sandra Stenmark M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado, with support from Target.

“We were thrilled to see so many voices convene, recognize the importance of SNAP, and work in partnership to maximize the program’s benefit to their community,” said Kate Kasper, director of public policy at Hunger Free Colorado. “We are particularly grateful that we were able to tap into the expertise of those with real-life experience of hunger.”

The Denver SNAP Task Force was formed to identify barriers to obtaining higher participation in SNAP and create a set of policy recommendations for the City and County of Denver to educate people about the program and assist eligible individuals in obtaining SNAP benefits.

Strategies from the report include:

• more targeted and culturally competent outreach,
• improved communication and user experience for clients and
• increased collaboration between public, private and community-based organizations.

There is also a call for improved programs and processes, such as:

• streamlined SNAP enrollment for seniors,
• increased incentive programs and
• better use of technology for benefit enrollment.

“When implemented, these recommendations stand to impact the more than 20,000 people who we believe are eligible and therefore have a right to access assistance like SNAP but are today struggling to put food on the table,” Todd Jorgensen, deputy executive director of assistance programming at

Denver Human Services and co-chair of the SNAP Task Force said. “This report outlines ways for us to partner with our community to connect more people to healthy, affordable food supports and other services that improve the overall health and well-being of our residents.”

Addressing SNAP enrollment is important for the health and economic security of Denver’s future. A growing body of national research points to the role of SNAP in lowering health care costs, promoting work and economic stability, helping older adults live independently, and boosting local economic activity, such as grocery sales. Additionally, studies show connecting families and individuals to nutritious food leads to better academic performance and lower rates of chronic conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

“No child, older adult, family or individual should go hungry in the City and County of Denver, especially when we have resources here specifically to support us when we need it that are going unused,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “I applaud the work of the Denver SNAP Task Force in developing these recommendations and look forward to working together as a community to eliminate hunger in Denver.”

“Enrollment in SNAP has been associated with improved health, prevention of chronic illness and decreased health care costs,” said Sandra Stenmark M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado and co-chair of the SNAP Task Force. “This report serves as a call-to-action for all sectors to increase SNAP enrollment and ensure Denverites have access to the fuel needed to thrive.”

View the report, Closing the SNAP GAP in Denver, at HungerFreeColorado.org/SNAPGAP.

Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization founded in 2009, leads efforts to connect families and individuals to food resources and fuels change in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry. By leveraging the power of collaboration, innovation and partnership, Hunger Free Colorado eliminates barriers to the access of affordable, nutritious food and brings a unified, statewide voice to the issues and solutions surrounding hunger. Some key initiatives include a statewide food resource hotline and mobile services, Hunger Through My Lens, and the Colorado Food Pantry Network. Learn more at HungerFreeColorado.org.

Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Founded in 1970, FRAC provides coordination, training, technical assistance, and support on nutrition and anti-poverty issues to a nationwide network of advocates, service providers, food banks, program administrators and participants, and policymakers. To learn more about FRAC, visit www.frac.org

The Food Trust, founded in 1992, strives to make healthy food available to all. Working with neighborhoods, schools, grocers, farmers and policymakers, The Food Trust has developed a comprehensive approach that combines nutrition education and greater availability of affordable, healthy food. To learn more about The Food Trust, visit www.thefoodtrust.org.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620

 
DENVER (June 19, 2018) — This week, the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill, is slated to come up for another full vote. (It failed to pass the first time it was brought to the floor.) This bill, crafted behind closed doors, imposes new and harmful requirements that would make it harder for low-income Coloradans to put food on the table. We call on the Colorado congressional delegation to act in the best interest of all Coloradans and reject this bill.

For decades, bipartisanship has been a hallmark of our nation’s food and farm policy. The Senate Agriculture Committee, of which Colorado’s Senator Michael Bennet is a member, wisely continued this longstanding tradition. Their approach yielded a compromise bill that effectively balances the needs of farmers and consumers, as well as urban, suburban, and rural populations. Their bill protects the people who need help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to weather life’s storms. It passed out of Committee easily on a bipartisan 20-1 vote.

By contrast, the House version of the Farm Bill has been partisan from the start. It represents a dangerous shift in the bill’s long-standing history, and it plays politics with the lives of real people. It includes new draconian work requirements to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will make it harder for low-income Coloradans—including older adults and families with young children— to put food on the table.

SNAP provides an average of just $1.40 per person, per meal. That modest support helps ensure Colorado families who are experiencing soaring housing costs and an acute shortage of childcare don’t have to choose between paying rent and feeding their families.

Let’s set the record straight: people who get help from SNAP must already meet strict work requirements. And in our experience, most people who can work do. Under the current law, adults ages 18-49 who do not have children under 18 or other dependents must work at least 80 hours per month or participate in a state-administered employment and training program for the same amount of time. If they do not, they become ineligible for a month for the first infraction, three months for the second, and six months for the third.

Under the House Farm Bill proposal, these work requirements would expand to include people 50-59 years old. This proposal may sound benign, but it’s not. Unemployed older Americans face significant challenges in reentering the workforce, including age discrimination and limited availability of effective training programs. The AARP reports that job seekers age 55 and older remain unemployed more than five months longer than younger workers and are paid about 20 percent less. A policy like this, which doesn’t recognize these realities, could easily doom older Coloradans to hunger and worsened health outcomes.

In another cruel twist, households that include school-age children would also be impacted, because the new rules would apply to anyone with a child over age six. But the Afterschool Alliance reports that more than 256,000 students in Colorado are waiting for a spot in afterschool programs. It would seem the House assumes children as young as seven can simply fend for themselves.

While it’s true that a good job can be a path out of poverty, such jobs must actually be available. Imposing work requirements without reference to employment possibilities, let alone the infrastructure to support working parents, is not evidence-based policymaking. Ironically, the 2014 Farm Bill included a number of pilots testing the efficacy of workforce development programs, but none of these pilot programs are yet complete. Rather than waiting for evidence, the House simply used an ideological litmus test. What we do know is that work requirements alone have proven to be ineffective in increasing employment and reducing poverty. For example, in 2016, West Virginia piloted work requirements in nine counties with the lowest unemployment rates. The result of this complex and costly program: just 5 percent of adults who were subjected to these new work requirements actually gained employment that year.

We can and must do better. If we want to see more Coloradans with the capacity to improve their lives and the lives of their children, if we want to improve health outcomes, and if we want to reduce healthcare costs, then we should be doing everything we can to increase Coloradans’ access to affordable, nutritious food.

The House Farm Bill is a short-sighted bid to vilify Americans who, amidst ever-rising costs and stagnant wages, are unable to make ends meet. With its severe cuts and changes, the House Farm Bill will increase hunger and hardship in Colorado and across the nation. We cannot let that happen.

All of Colorado’s congressional delegation has an important responsibility in ensuring a fair Farm Bill. They must do their part on behalf of all Coloradans, including those who struggle with hunger, and reject the harmful changes proposed in the House Republican Farm Bill.

Kathy Underhill is CEO of Hunger Free Colorado a statewide nonprofit organization, connecting families and individuals to food resources and fueling change in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry.

Abby J. Leibman is president & CEO of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel.

Media Contact: Ellie Agar, Director of Communications, (720) 464-3620