Food Justice

Food Justice Fellowship

Current work: “I Speak” & “I Understand” Improving Language Access for SNAP Benefits in Indiana Report

Administrative & language barriers in the SNAP enrollment system often prevent marginalized groups from receiving benefits that they are eligible for. Language access involves the necessary measures needed to make content accessible for those with cognitive disabilities, people with low literacy skills, and LEP speakers. In Indiana, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) provides accommodations for LEP individuals giving them some needed relief. However, the report details numerous opportunities available to improve access for LEP individuals applying for benefits, including the following key findings:

  • FSSA has, and continues to, engage in language access.

  • Stakeholder and community feedback will improve language access.

  • Removing Social Security Number as an identifier would increase access to the online Benefits Portal.

  • Adding new languages that are being frequently seen in the drop-down menu for translation of the online portal mitigates the administrative burden seen by beneficiaries and agency staff.

  • Having a readily accessible process to address complaints with local DFR offices and call centers allows participants to voice their concerns and ensures compliance with language access requirements.

Continuous Work:

Natalia Machicote

She/Her/Ella
Food Justice Fellow
nmachicote@injp.org

Hablo Español!

  • Inform individuals of their rights to SNAP benefits.

  • Represent SNAP beneficiaries and applicants in administrative appeals of denials of benefits.

  • Identify systemic barriers to accessing SNAP benefits, partial focus on language access.

  • Collaborate with community organizations to address those barriers in partnership.

Food Insecurity

730,480 Hoosiers were food insecure in 2021. That is, 1 out of 9 Hoosiers do not know where they are going to find their next meal. The risk of becoming food insecure increases when money is limited or unavailable.

Some causes of food insecurity are:

  • lack of affordable housing

  • poverty and unemployment

  • lack of transportation and physical access to food

  • disability

  • chronic health conditions or lack of access to healthcare

  • structural racism and discrimination

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Also known as Food Stamps, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income household so they can purchase healthy foods and become self-sufficient. SNAP is one of the most important anti-hunger programs in the nation.

SNAP increases food security by reducing the budgetary constraints individuals might have so they can purchase other essential items like diapers, clothes or medicine.

Benefits are given on an EBT card that is used like an ATM card, called the “Hoosier Works” card, in accepted grocery stores.