Hunger fight goes on the road

Hunger, like homelessness, remains a national shame and an incredible stain on the richest society on earth.  It seems inconceivable, but it is an indisputable fact that a rising number of our fellow citizens are going to bed hungry every night.

Food stamps are an important weapon in this battle, but we estimate that only about 50% of the people in Los Angeles County who are eligible are actually receiving this crucial assistance.

That’s why I was so encouraged to see the county rev up a new tool in the fight against hunger the other day. The Department of Public Social Services’ new mobile “Health and Nutrition Mobile Unit” is going to be hitting the streets, moving into our communities to find people who are eligible for food stamps and signing them up.

This 34-foot custom-made traveling office, fully equipped with computers, will be a rolling alternative to the status quo, in which food stamp applicants usually go to a county DPSS office, which unfortunately, for some, still carries a stigma. With this van, we can bring the mountain to Mohammed, so to speak.

But any successful innovation is about more than just equipment. This effort also will be tapping into the incredibly valuable human resources of our non-profit organizations—like the St. Joseph Center in Venice, where the van was unveiled, and the L.A. Jewish Federation, which since last fall has been running a “Fed Up With Hunger” campaign.

The nonprofits’ staff workers and volunteers will be on the front lines of this new outreach effort, identifying candidates for food stamps and assisting them with the time-consuming paperwork that is required on the front end. That way, when county workers show up in the van, they will be able to handle their end of the process more quickly and efficiently.

And reaching as many people as possible is the name of the game in these tough times.

Over the past year, we have seen demand at food pantries go up from 50% to 125%.

Yet many who should be receiving food stamps haven’t applied for them. Helping these individuals and families put nutritious food on the table will set up a win-win situation for all involved.

For one thing, these new clients (who, by the way, will be using electronic cards for their purchases, not stamps or vouchers) will be bringing business to our local supermarkets and grocery stores.

For another, they’ll be able to access an array of other services at the same time they sign up for food stamps—including mental health, housing and health care assistance.

We’ll essentially become a one-stop operation to help make life better for many of the folks who need a hand these days. And we’ll be doing it out in the neighborhoods where the need is greatest. So, as the old saying goes, let’s get this show on the road.

To hear Zev discuss the need to increase access to food stamps, watch the DPSS video below.

Posted 9/30/10