City Council urges state to expand access to nutrition assistance by closing SNAP gap

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program, promoting the long-term health and wellbeing of participants. It is designed to respond quickly and effectively to economic downturns and is more cost-effective than emergency feeding programs, providing five meals for every meal provided by the Greater Boston Food Bank.



In 2019, 18 percent of Boston residents were food insecure, nearly twice the statewide rate, with higher rates of food insecurity among Boston residents who speak English as a second language, residents with disabilities, Hispanic and Latinx residents, residents of Boston Housing Authority properties, participants in the Section 8 voucher program, and residents of Roxbury, Mission Hill, Mattapan, Dorchester, and Fenway/Kenmore.



According to state data, as of December 2019, more than 70,000 Boston residents who participate in MassHealth are likely eligible for SNAP but do not receive SNAP benefits, one of the largest municipal SNAP gaps in the Commonwealth.



The significant under-utilization of SNAP puts additional pressure on the emergency food distribution network, including the Greater Boston Food Bank and its community partners, which are continuing to experience a shortfall in volunteers and a shortage of available meals.



The Massachusetts State Legislature passed in Chapter 151 of the Acts of 2020, An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth (“IT Bond Bill”), which authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to spend $5,000,000 on capital costs associated with facilitating the development of a system to allow applicants and recipients of MassHealth and the Medicare savings program, also known as MassHealth buy-in, the option to initiate an application for federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits at the time of application or renewal for medical assistance, and authorize the office of Medicaid to submit said application to the Department of Transitional Assistance.



During this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution calling upon Governor Baker and his administration to act immediately to implement a streamlined process for MassHealth applicants to simultaneously file for SNAP benefits, expanding access to nutrition assistance for Boston residents.