Universal Broadband Coverage Empowers Low-Income and Poor Families

Without access to the Internet many individuals fall behind, even for simple tasks like completing job applications. Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and Target require online applications. The main reasons people have limited access to fast-speed Internet, according to a New York Times article on broadband expansion, are: "The cost of Internet services and the cost of computers; not knowing how to use a computer; and not understanding why the Internet is relevant."

A recent editorial in the St. Joseph News-Press advocated for expansion of public-private partnerships in Missouri with an emphasis on use of federal economic stimulus funds.

The benefits of high-speed internet, from health care to education to business, long have been known. Rural residents quickly grasped the importance of the information pipeline. It gives families and young professionals the option to live in a small town and still connect to jobs in larger cities or even around the world.

Streetwise on Michigan Avenue in Chicago

I stopped for coffee at a restaurant on Michigan Avenue in Chicago a few blocks from the conference I was attending when a couple stopped by under an awning on a sunny day. "You don't love me. That's the message I get," said the woman, who I clearly heard from 20 feet away. He responds in hushed tones that I can't hear.

"We won't be able to work through it today," she added. Just as quickly they disappear before I can take a picture.

A woman in a motorized wheelchair makes an appeal for donations for Streetwise, a magazine helps "homeless and impoverished men and women of Chicago."

"Good morning, good morning, good morning. Streetwise," she rattles off to passersby. "Looking-good, sounding-good Streetwise," she repeats as people walk from the subway station and pass by on their way to work or make deliveries.

I spoke briefly with the woman, who said she had been homeless for six years, but added donations had gotten better recently. She mentioned she gets food assistance occasionally from an area church food pantry.

Yikes! Why are my children coming back home to live with me?

An annual report released in September 2011 by the US Census documented their findings on the growth of poverty in the US. The report reveals a startling -- though somewhat expected because the information reflects a prior year -- rise in the poverty rate. What the report does not reveal are the local, even personal, impact of poverty.

Take Kansas City as an example.

Ken at a Midtown Kansas City food pantry mentioned that over the past year he's seen "larger families" show up for food assistance, meaning unemployed members of a family are moving in together. Younger, 20-something children are moving back in with their parents, Ken mentioned.

Perhaps predicting a future, even larger, decline in food assistance options, Ken mentioned some Missouri food pantries may be seeing funding cut for through the Community Service Block Grants.

Proposed Cuts to Food Assistance Point to a “Perform Storm”

During a workshop at a food bank conference held October 3-5, 2011 in Chicago, David Lee, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy with Feeding America, acknowledged a “perfect storm” is brewing that could have a devastating impact on poor and working families. He was referring to the combination of continued, high unemployment, a significant increase in the need for food assistance, and proposed cuts in Federal support for food assistance programs.

David Lee (photo: Feeding America)

The proposed cuts to TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) in the agriculture appropriations bill for FY2012, which starts October 1,  represent a 43% reduction from the previous year. “This is terrifying stuff,” mentioned Lee.

The proposed House of Representatives version of the 2012 Farm Bill “slashed nutrition” by 20%,  he said, adding that this includes a “terrible, terrible cut to WIC,” the popular program available to lower-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under the age of five. To emphasize the significance of the proposed cuts, he mentioned Washington staff “dropped coffee cups” when they heard this.

On a positive note, he mentioned the Senate version of the 2012 Farm Bill restores WIC funding. “Everybody’s punting. It’s really, really scary out there,” reiterating the impact to people seeking food assistance. Not many news organizations have reported on these cuts, for instance, a September 23 report by Harvest Public Media overlooked nutrition cuts in the House version of the bill, which recommended significant cuts to Federal food assistance programs (see chart below).

Federal Spending on TEFAP Food and Funds
FY 2009-FY 2012 in millions. (source: Feeding America)

He went on to explain how food assistance reduces poverty in families and individuals, but pointed out one of the arguments to retain public food streams – namely, these streams benefit local economies and food retailers when benefit recipients spend dollars at grocery stores and markets. The loss of this social necessity has a impact on the economy. “When you think of food assistance you can think of it as a market program.”

The atmosphere that fosters cuts to food assistance programs is “exceedingly, exceedingly toxic.” David Lee keeps emphasizing the significance of the problem. These cuts have special meaning because the timing of advocacy for maintaining food assistance programs is critical.

The annual Federal budget appropriations bill has not been passed, and deficit reduction is controlling all parts of the debate, he added. Additionally, the super-committee comprised of 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats are required to find $1.2 trillion in cuts over a ten-year period. Significant cuts to nutrition programs are still on the table. October 14 is the date the committee must come up with it’s initial recommendations, and must vote by November 30 in order to have a full vote in Congress by December 23. It will be a “fun holiday season,” he adds sarcastically.


On the subject of the Charitable Tax Deduction, Lee says President Obama has proposed changing this deduction to help pay for the $450 billion jobs bill. Capping the deduction at 28% would reduce funds to charitable organizations by $7 billion. This cut combined with government cuts to public food assistance will put significant pressure on food banks. Lee added that “charity cannot do this alone,” noting that the SNAP (Food Stamps) program provides $64 billion in benefits to recipients.

Lee: “You guys have to raise hell” 

The 2012 Farm Bill fight to retain nutrition and food assistance programs will be “really, really scary.” Lee said “commodity and agriculture interests seek proportional reductions" in all components of the Farm Bill, meaning both farm subsidies and nutrition programs. Last week the American Farm Bureau said nutrition programs “should carry their own water” by accepting a 30% cut in food assistance.

How will food banks cope? Declining charitable donations and cuts to nutrition programs combined with an increased demand for food assistance will put severe impacts on food banks' ability to serve impoverished families.

Advocacy made a big difference in maintaining funding in the 2008 Farm Bill. He gave an example of how a unlikely partner could help the food fight. The 7-11 corporation advocated on behalf of retaining funds for SNAP because so many people in poor neighborhoods without a quality grocery store purchased food items from the convenience stores.

Why is advocacy important? He noted the situation required “all hands on deck” to pressure legislators to maintain funding. He gave workshop participants their marching orders with a three-pronged approach.

• Engage and educate public officials
• Foster and encourage local media contacts
• Mobilize external partners and other stakeholders

People are the “owners of the process” he reminded workshop participants by saying "well-rounded, thoughtful people are being drowned out in the debate on deficit reduction." He noted, like many political advocacy groups, that personal visits by constituents to legislators have the biggest influence. The second biggest influence is by groups that represent constituents, such as food bank representatives and food pantry workers.