History of SNAP The concept for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was first conceived in 1939 under the direction of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Wallace (USDA Food & Nutrition Service, 2014). Due in part to prevalent rates of unemployment nationwide, along with unmarketable food surpluses, the government sold food stamps that could be used to buy foods. With the purchase of a $1.00 orange stamp, 50¢ worth of blue stamps would be received in addition. Orange stamps were to be used on any food, while blue could only be used to buy what the department had determined to be surplus. This program ended in 1943, as surplus and unemployment were no longer of concern. Congress authorized a Food Stamp pilot that ran from 1961-1964,
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Initially, the food stamp pilot placed emphasis on increasing the consumption of perishables (USDA Food & Nutrition Service, 2014). By doing so, the country would be decreasing wasted food products, thus affecting the agricultural economy in a positive way. Inadvertently, consumers were encouraged to purchase fresh produce and goods, thus increasing their access to nutritiously rich foods. The Food Stamp Act of 1964 had similar goals; strengthening the agricultural economy, while providing more nutrition to low-income households. The purpose of the SNAP implemented today is similar, in that providing low-income families with nutritionally-rich foods is still the utmost …show more content…
The first factor is supporting family functioning and providing substitute services only as a last resort. The program does not address root causes of financial insecurity, the goal is to merely assist in providing one of the basic human needs. The expectations for families to assume financial responsibilities are unrealistic. In 2014, 30.6% of single-mother households were below the poverty threshold in a small study done by Census Bureau (DeNavas-Walt, et al. 2014). With a limited income, a single parent can bring home, the maximum allotment of $511.00 (without deductions) would be difficult to spread across three mouths, for four weeks. Much of the other income would be going to childcare, transportation, bills,
Initially, the food stamp pilot placed emphasis on increasing the consumption of perishables (USDA Food & Nutrition Service, 2014). By doing so, the country would be decreasing wasted food products, thus affecting the agricultural economy in a positive way. Inadvertently, consumers were encouraged to purchase fresh produce and goods, thus increasing their access to nutritiously rich foods. The Food Stamp Act of 1964 had similar goals; strengthening the agricultural economy, while providing more nutrition to low-income households. The purpose of the SNAP implemented today is similar, in that providing low-income families with nutritionally-rich foods is still the utmost …show more content…
The first factor is supporting family functioning and providing substitute services only as a last resort. The program does not address root causes of financial insecurity, the goal is to merely assist in providing one of the basic human needs. The expectations for families to assume financial responsibilities are unrealistic. In 2014, 30.6% of single-mother households were below the poverty threshold in a small study done by Census Bureau (DeNavas-Walt, et al. 2014). With a limited income, a single parent can bring home, the maximum allotment of $511.00 (without deductions) would be difficult to spread across three mouths, for four weeks. Much of the other income would be going to childcare, transportation, bills,