Spinoff of "Hunger" Thread - Interactive Map Food Stamps

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by geo in mi

From the USDA SNAP website FAQ: 23. What are some characteristics of SNAP households?

Based on a study of data gathered in Fiscal Year 2006:

49 percent of all participants are children (18 or younger), and 61 percent of them live in single-parent households.

52 percent of SNAP households include children.

9 percent of all participants are elderly (age 60 or over).

76 percent of all benefits go to households with children, 16 percent go to households with disabled persons, and 9 percent go to households with elderly persons.

33 percent of households with children were headed by a single parent, the overwhelming majority of which were headed by women.

The average household size is 2.3 persons.

The average gross monthly income per SNAP household is $673.

43 percent of participants are white; 33 percent are African-American, non-Hispanic; 19 percent are Hispanic; 2 percent are Asian, 2 percent are Native American, and less than 1 percent are of unknown race or ethnicity.


These figures are from BEFORE the current recession period, so it would be interesting to see the same breakdown today.

What does SNAP stand for?

[Ken Scharabok]

It is the new name for Food Stamps. Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. I don't know it is just a renaming of FS or if it also includes such programs as WIC.

Added. Old joke: One president became concerned about the number of acronnym used by the federal government and military. He ordered a study towards reducing them. Once the study panel was put in place it issued a press announcement to the effect "The federal government has commissioned a study towards acronym reduction, hereafter known as STAR."

[FrontPorch]

Originally Posted by Ernie

My county is kind of bizarre. 10% of whites are on food stamps as opposed to 46% of blacks. We're up 24% to 16%.

These numbers don't make sense. 46% of the black population makes up WAY more than 16% of the total population.

I think you guys are looking at it the wrong way. It would be that 46% of the people who are on food stamps are black and 10% are white. Not 46% of all blacks are on food stamps, etc.