Minnesota is leaving approximately $210 million in food and money on the table by not fully participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as "Food Stamps"), according to a Boston Consulting Group study released today by Minnesota's six Feeding America food banks.
According to the report, Minnesota trails all but seven states in SNAP participation with only 302,000 of the state's 670,000 income-eligible residents receiving benefits. Only five states have higher costs to administer SNAP. BCG suggests that by enrolling currently eligible but non-participating individuals into the program, Minnesota would add $210 million to its annual economy as a result of direct benefits and a multiplier effect as new recipients shop in local food stores.
"BCG's study suggests that Minnesota is dramatically underutilizing a significant hunger-relief tool and leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table," Shaye Moris (right), executive director of Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth, said in a prepared statement. "We are helping to share the results of BCG's study to encourage a statewide dialogue around streamlining the SNAP program and process so that more Minnesotans get the nutritional help they need."
BCG said that by bringing Minnesota's SNAP per-case cost closer to the national average, the state would potentially save $29 million annually. In total, by becoming a cost-effective and high-performing administrator of SNAP, Minnesota could see $240 million in annual economic stimulus, local jobs and savings.
The BCG report notes that of the 368,000 eligible Minnesotan's not participating in SNAP, 169,000 don't realize they are eligible and 130,000 are deterred by cumbersome administrative requirements. To address these participation barriers, BCG recommends five specific initiatives, including a heightened awareness campaign, aggressive enrollment outreach efforts, a phone interview option, cross-referencing eligibility with other support programs, and simplified eligibility criteria, the latter of which is currently in progress in the Minnesota Legislature.
The report also recommends a sixth initiative, migrating from a county-directed to a state-directed program, to push Minnesota into the 10 lowest-cost states for SNAP administration. If implemented, these initiatives would add an estimated 178,000 more Minnesotans into SNAP and move the state into the top 10 nationally for SNAP participation.
"Minnesota is facing a multi-billion dollar budget gap and area food shelves are experiencing a 40 percent increase in visits," said Peter Lawyer, senior partner and managing director of The Boston Consulting Group's Minneapolis office. "The SNAP program can be an effective safety net for families and individuals who are facing tough times—and Minnesota's taxpayers have already picked up the tab. Our recommendations will help make sure that these benefits reach eligible recipients and that the state's economy gets a much-needed boost."
Second Harvest Heartland requested the BCG study after unveiling Minnesota's Missing Meals report last year. That report showed that low-income Minnesotans miss 125 million meals every year -- 12 percent of their food needs -- and compelled Minnesota's Feeding America food banks to take immediate action to address the gap. Both reports can be viewed in their entireties at missingmeals.org.
Duluth Education
Students who are enrolled in a Hip Hop and Human Dignity class at St. Scholastica will perform at Hip Hop Helps on April 23 at St. Scholastica. Submitted.
. St. Scholastica students are throwing a hip-hop party to help area youth in need. "Hip Hop Helps" will start at 8 p.m. Friday, April 23, in Storm's Den on the ground floor of Tower Hall on the college campus. Tickets are $5 and will be sold in the Storm's Den lobby starting at 6:30 p.m. the day of the concert. The public is welcome.
The concert will benefit Life House for Youth, a Duluth shelter that serves homeless teenagers.
Performers include Mike Mictlan and Andrew Sims of Minneapolis' Doomtree; Lyrics Intelligent from Detroit; and Kritical Kontact and Good Knight from Duluth. St. Scholastica student DJs "Blanc Blanc" (Chris LeBlanc) and "DJb" (Dan Branovan) will perform. The hip-hop party will also include dancers and graffiti artists.
Students who are enrolled in a Hip Hop and Human Dignity class at St. Scholastica, taught by Chris Godsey, an English and Dignitas instructor, are hosting the event. The event is sponsored by the Dignitas Program and Stockfest student group.
. The St. Scholastica Chamber Choir and the Men's and Women's Collegiate Choruses will present their spring concert on Sunday, May 2 in the Mitchell Auditorium on campus. The concert of sacred and secular choral music is free and open to the public.
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