Food Bank Launches Pilot
By Bill Zeeble, KERA
03.08.2010
In some Dallas cases the wait to get the Lone Star food-stamp card stretched for months - in one case to 140 days. The federal government says the wait should take no longer than 30 days. That's a huge problem for people like Amber Sexton. The single mom with two young daughters lost her job in December.

Amber Sexton: Food was a primary thing at the time, because you know, didn't have any money coming in so, you know, just the girls saying "I'm hungry, what am I going to eat?" It's just kind of hard telling them "I don't know."

The immediate solution for Sexton and thousands of other families waiting for their Lone Star card, is the local food pantry. She's at Metro Crest Social Services, in Carrollton. The longer she has to wait for food stamps, the tougher the burden on Metro Crest's supplier, the North Texas Food Bank.

In the bank's 84,000 square foot warehouse in southern Dallas, volunteers pack food supplies for Metro Crest and 1,100 other non-profit outlets. The food will eventually reach more than 60,000 families a week, according to the North Texas Food Bank's Chief Operating Officer, Paul Wunderlich. He says the food stamp backlog adds to that burden.

Paul Wunderlich, North Texas Food Bank COO: What it has done for us, is those 140 days that you mentioned, then require our food pantries to serve more to that particular family than they might normally. So that length of time to wait created more pressure on our food pantry system to feed folks.

Wunderlich says the new pilot lets food bank workers formally interview food stamp applicants. Prior to an approved federal waiver requested by the state's Health and Human Services Commission, only an HHS person could do it.

Stephanie Goodman: So even if we had very complete information we had to call the person back and recollect it.

Stephanie Goodman is with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She says now, that newly trained, approved food bank worker will conduct then hand the interview over to the state.

Stephanie Goodman: It's the state worker who processes the application but we think that's going to help the process go much faster for folks who apply.

The state's four largest food banks - in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio - are piloting this program: the first of its kind in the country. That's a relief for Amber Sexton. She recently applied for food stamps, after learning about it by calling the state's free 2-1-1 help number.

Amber Sexton: It's been a week and a half since I had come up here and recently applied, and so hopefully, since it's a lot quicker process, hopefully I'll be getting it a lot faster now.

Camilla Zimbal works at Metro Crest. She's already noticed improvements.

Camilla Zimbal: I've seen the difference in how long it takes our clients to get on the food stamps. It's definitely decreased significantly. To go down from 10 weeks to 2 weeks is, is crucial.

The $3.5 million pilot program will be tested for 2 years. If successful, it'll spread statewide, and could also go national.

Anyone needing food assistance or food stamps can get more information by visiting KERA.org/economy

HOW NTFB CAN HELP:
The S.N.A.P. program, formerly “food stamps,” is available to help low-income individuals purchase nutritious foods, like fruit, vegetables, and grains that are necessary for good health. Texas recently came under fire for failing to process requests for food stamps within federally required time limits – in some cases, backlog extended up to 5 months. Now, you can look no further than your local food bank to receive the assistance you need. Avoid lengthy waits and missed appointments at your Texas Health and Human Services’ Commission Office. Through this new program, Texas food bank employees will now be able to help you fill out your food stamps application, and pass their information along to the correct food stamp office. If you currently qualify for or receive welfare benefits or Medicaid, it is likely that you qualify for food stamps in Texas.

This program provides training, funding, and assistance to Food Bank employees to help expedite the screening and food stamp application process.
Some highlights of the program:

• Families may now go to their local Food Bank to fill out the food stamps application and determine their eligibility.
• The date the Food Bank receives the application from the family is the official file date for the application. This means that the state has 30 days from that date to process the case.
• Your Food Bank caseworker can help you collect all the required documents, fill out the application, and answer any questions you have about the process.
• Applications for families that meet requirements for expedited assistance will have their applications sent to the State within 24 hours.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SNAP:

• The online application is NOT for all Texas residents. Unless you reside in Travis County, do not fill out the application that is available online.
• The amount of benefits per month varies from $16 to $200 per month for an individual.
• The average family receives approximately $315/month in SNAP benefits.
• North Texas Food Bank Social Services Assistance employees will be on-site at various agencies throughout the 13-county service area each day. To find out a location closest to you, contact the Social Service Assistance department at NTFB, through e-mail or phone.
• These assistance workers can help you collect required documents, fill out your application, conduct interviews, and submit your information to the State.
• If you cannot make it to an agency or the Food Bank, an application can be mailed or e-mailed to you.

WHO TO CONTACT:
If you have any questions or would like to apply for SNAP benefits, contact Leticia Tobias, Social Services Assistance Associate at Leticia@ntfb.org