{"id":74079,"date":"2022-09-15T20:24:44","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T20:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/15\/veterans-hunger-bill-aims-to-connect-those-in-need-with-more-resources\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:08:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:08:09","slug":"veterans-hunger-bill-aims-to-connect-those-in-need-with-more-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/veterans\/2022\/09\/15\/veterans-hunger-bill-aims-to-connect-those-in-need-with-more-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans hunger bill aims to connect those in need with more resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lawmakers want to boost efforts to fight food insecurity<\/a> among veterans by connecting them to the help they need through a new proposal unveiled Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cEnd Veteran Hunger Act,\u201d would authorize a five-year pilot program offering $50 million in grants to increase outreach and education for veterans; to connect them to federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and to reduce the stigma associated with using such programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grants, issued from 2023 through 2027, would also be used to provide direct food assistance to veterans. That provision is flexible so that community organizations with proven track records of helping address hunger can do what they need to do to feed hungry people. The program would be administered through the National Nutrition and Food Services Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grants would help drill down to the community level to reach veterans in need. Community-based organizations, veterans service organizations, tribal organizations, and local, state or federal government agencies would be among those eligible to apply for grants. In addition to increasing access to federal nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP, the grants could be used to increase access to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal was introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs health subcommittee, and Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., who is a representative of San Diego\u2019s military community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Department of Agriculture statistics, about one in 10 working-age veterans lived in food-insecure households between 2015 and 2019, including 5% in households with the most severe level of hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawmakers also cited a study published in 2020, conducted in part by researchers in the Department of Veterans Affairs, which noted that fewer than 40% of veterans who are eligible for SNAP \u2014 formerly known as food stamps \u2014 were enrolled in the program. A goal of the proposed legislation is to increase participation in federal food and nutrition programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the reluctance for some to participate is perceived stigma about using the programs, and the lawmakers want the grants to help reduce that.<\/p>\n\n\n\t