In a state recently ranked 49th in child well being, New Mexico’s Governor Susanna Martinez (R) has put forth yet another plan that is anti-working class. This time she has targeted hungry families who utilize the food stamp program SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The proposal will increase work requirements to receive food benefits. Many states including New Mexico have in the past waived the work requirements of SNAP since it would seem unreasonable to require people who are starving to find work when the disparity between the jobs available and the number of unemployed is so extreme.
In an economic downturn like this, it is an egregious act of violence against the poor and working-class families to enforce such requirements just so they may get sufficient nutrition.
Over 21 percent of all New Mexicans are enrolled in the food stamps program. Over 28 percent of the state’s children are food insecure. This is compared to the national average of 21 percent of kids living in households unable to provide adequate nutrition. Under Martinez’s proposal, the state’s Human Services Department would limit able-bodied people to three months of SNAP benefits unless they work or attend job training classes at least 20 hours a week. The standard work requirement applies to people 18 – 50 who are healthy enough to work and have no children or dependents. Martinez’s administration would broaden this range to 16 –60 year olds and those with children over the age of six, requiring them to fulfill the work requirement in order to receive benefits.
Approximately 26,000 – 80,000 people who currently benefit could lose those benefits if new requirements are instated.
Liberation News went to speak to recipients of SNAP benefits at a local benefit office to hear how these measures will impact poor families.
Robert Ford, who was a sheet metal worker for five years before becoming unemployed, now does odd jobs with computers and software design to support himself and his 8 year old son. To this family, SNAP food stamps are an absolute necessity.
“How do I look for work, when I have to take 45 minutes of public transportation, get my son to school on time, while also trying to fulfill job training requirements I am already trained for,” said Ford. “The numbers do not add up. Even with the benefits I get roughly $317 of food stamps per month for my son and myself. What they really want is free labor to support the state,” said Ford who added that he is lucky to have the support of family and friends that many do not.
Such may be the case of a young mother, Kaylyn who is supporting both herself and her daughter. Kaylyn has been seeking SNAP benefits since April having been consistently put through the bureaucratic wringer and asked to provide such things as proof of child support when she has none coming to her. She currently works 16 hours per week at her part-time job and has been asked to work more for the benefits, all this while she intends to go back to school to get her diploma. As she waits to get childcare support [a benefit withheld until several weeks of work paystubs are submitted] she and her daughter go hungry.
“All my daughter, Elena, and I have now to eat daily is cereal,” stated Kaylyn. “I think they’re impossible. One Hundred and twenty-nine hours is what they’re requiring us to volunteer for $459 that they’re assisting us with and I mean that don’t even add up to minimum wage. Not to mention you have to call in daily, you have to check in daily with a caseworker. This is my third time this week, I’ve been here everyday this week so not only is this cutting time into the time that they want me to volunteer, I’ve been sitting here for three hours and have yet to be seen,” testified Renea Garcia, who was visually upset dealing with SNAP requirements.
“It’s difficult. The reason why I’ve been on the assistance for a month now is just because my mom is in hospice and I had to take time off of work to take care of her and right now I have to volunteer on top of taking care of my dying mother, and they pretty much show no compassion,” added Garcia.
“I’ve had a job for 3 years, and they’re still making me do job search. I think it’s ridiculous that they’re still making me look for a job when I already have a job,” explained Maria, another woman at the SNAP office.
“These requirements are punitive, costly, and ineffective, and will only make it more difficult for our already beleaguered poor to jump through
hoops,” said Frank Quintana, a minister at the Blessed Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Albuquerque.
Benjamin Imbus, a middle school teacher in Albuquerque, testified at a Santa Fe hearing with appointees of the state of New Mexico that many of his students are unable to concentrate in class due to chronic hunger. He also went on to state that it seemed many of the public officials were there to put on a show to provide proof that they are “listening to public concerns” while not actively responding to them in any substantial way.
It is clear that Governor Martinez’s administration sees the hungry people of her state as the problem and not the hunger itself. But as people begin to unite in a singular voice of opposition, the challenge to these anti-people measures can be stopped.
