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| Image from SWOP |
This past Wednesday, a group of anti-hunger organizations hosted a
town hall meeting to
to allow the
public an opportunity to make comments on a proposal by Gov. Susana Martinez's administration to expand work-related requirements on low-income New Mexicans to qualify
for food stamps. Under the plan, the state would restore a
20-hour-a-week work requirement for an estimated 26,600 childless adults
to get food stamps.
In conjunction with the town hall, the
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico, the
New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, the
South West Organizing Project (SWOP) and
New Mexico Voices for Children are all urging their supporters to contact the governor's office to oppose the new SNAP rules. The action alert below was sent out by New Mexico Voices for Children, but all three other organizations are asking supporters to take take the same action.
Call the Governor Susana Martinez’s office before Friday, July 17, to Oppose Expanded Work Requirements for the SNAP Program in New Mexico
What You Might Say:
“Please don’t require parents, kids under age 18 and adults over 50 do
unpaid work to get SNAP benefits. New Mexico has the third highest rate
of hunger in the country and we cannot afford policies that
unnecessarily limit food assistance for our families.”
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| Image from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry |
Background: New Mexico has the nation's third highest rate
of child hunger. Despite our hunger problem, the state is proposing to
make it even more difficult for families to provide for their children.
The state Human Services Department (HSD) has proposed new regulations
that would require unemployed parents to work 20 hours a week—and if
they can’t find paid work, they must volunteer—in order to continue
receiving food stamps. The proposed new regulations go far beyond what
the federal government requires and will place an additional burden on
parents who are already struggling to find work and put food on the
table.
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| New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty |
The
expanded work requirement is proposed for parents with children over
age 6, young people ages 16-18 who are not in school, and adults up to
age 60. The state plans to spend $1.5 million of your tax dollars to
implement this new work requirement. There are several problems with
these requirements, not the least of which is the state’s continued poor
economy and jobs market. Requiring parents who cannot find a job to do
unpaid work puts financial strains on their families. And youth should
be encouraged to stay in school—not to go to work.
In
collaboration with our allies in the nonprofit and faith communities,
we are organizing a campaign to ensure that the people are heard
regarding these harsh and harmful rules.
1 comment:
Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is running a free bus to the hearing in Santa Fe on Friday.
"Ride the bus and join us to tell the Governor that New Mexicans should not have to do unpaid work activity to get food for their families.
Attend the Public Hearing 7/17 Proposed Work Rules for SNAP at the DOH Harold Runnels Building Auditorium,1190 S. St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM.
FREE TRANSPORTATION and LUNCH!
Bus leaves at 10:30am July 17, 2015 from 211 10th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Email rodrigo@swop.net or call (505)247-8832 by July 16 to reserve your spot!"
Facebook event page: Ride the BUS! Protect SNAP! https://www.facebook.com/events/653173211484785/
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