One in six Americans do not have adequate access to food, including 17 million children, according to Feeding America. One of the ways that the government is trying to reduce those figures is with SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) or the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program to help those in need. SNAP and programs that preceded it have been in this country for over 70 years, helping millions of families. However, the reputation and public opinion of the program is storied and involves many polarizing opinions.
However, there are a lot of negative opinions about SNAP based on “facts” that aren’t true. For example, it’s a common misconception that those who rely on government aid are lazy. When the truth is that 11% of SNAP recipients are disabled, 45% are children and 8% are elderly. It’s never an ideal situation, but SNAP is often the only thing many have to rely on to feed their families. To learn more about SNAP and who’s benefiting from the program, read this infographic below, by Grocery Coupon Network.
Dave Landry is a personal finance adviser and motivational speaker from Southern California. Dave frequently contributes to National Debt Relief, where people in dire financial situations can seek help and assistance.