Poverty and food stamps
Contributed by Alexa Parrales, biology/pre-health major
Food stamps and poverty are sorrowful topics to write about because I learned that Texas is an inconsiderate state, and due to that millions of people are affected. Poverty can be condensed vastly if Texas paid its workers more; out of every state, Texas has more workers earning minimum wage than any other state. Earning minimum wage limits worker’s standard of living meaning that since employees get paid very little they do not have enough money to survive without help.
Another issue in Texas has been major food stamp delays, and these delays affect the people in Houston because nearly 442,000 residents depend on that to get a bite and or feed their families and with delays that means that there will be days without any food. My research on this topic taught me that the people on food stamps barely get enough money to survive, the average money that families in Houston get is $324 per month worth of food aid. This is what a middle-class family of 4 spends in a week worth of food.
Before I researched this topic my perception on food stamps was that the people that were on it got pricey foods, but then I realized that it was the total opposite. With the food stamps money these poor people receive they get enough to buy the worst quality food. According to recent studies, 89% of the people on welfare purchase junk food; foods like chips, sugary drinks, hot and ready meals, frozen and microwaveable foods etc. As a result of junk food purchase, immensely unhealthy eating habits are leading to higher obesity rates especially in children because lamentably most people with welfare aid have a child.
In consequence, since these people have a family to sustain it is easier to buy junk food, because it is more cheap, highly advertised on TV and in the media, kids love it, and it is easy to make; in contrast, healthy food (organic and inorganic) is pricier and not really advertised. Stores have made hearty foods 20% more expensive so that people can purchase more junk food. In sum, if you earn a wage that is not enough, suddenly lose your job, or are going through an economic crisis you can apply for the food stamp program and they can aid with supplying you with money to buy food.
Although Texas has a lot of cons it also has its pros like: the non-profit food bank that Houston has to help end hunger by donating healthy food to the hungry and people who are facing hardship. According to Houston food bank in the year of 2014-2015 the food bank has distributed 74,000,000 nutritious meals. The way the bank gets their food to distribute is by sponsors like Kroger, HEB, Sysco, and Chevron. So this is one of the good sides about living in Texas.
Another great aspect about Texas is Texas school food/ breakfast and lunch program for the children to get free lunch. Some children’s only and first meal is at school. In like matter, Texas also has unemployment Insurance, which provides temporary financial aid for the people who have lost their job; last but not least the Texas weatherization assistance program, which helps low-income elderly and disabled adults and families.
Also published on Medium.
