Food Stamp Outreach and Advocacy
Through SNAP/Food Stamp Outreach and Advocacy, Community Food Advocates aims to improve access to food for low-income and vulnerable people. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the Food Stamp program, provides individuals and families experiencing poverty with resources to help them purchase food. The goal of SNAP/Food Stamp Outreach is to help increase program participation and advise individuals about eligibility.
Our SNAP/Food Stamp Outreach targets five specific populations with information about SNAP/Food Stamps:
1) Refugees and immigrants
2) Seniors and people with disabilities
3) The “working poor,” or underemployed
4) People in transition from incarceration to the community, and
5) People who are homeless.
Through presentations, distribution of outreach brochures and one-on-one “pre-screenings,” Community Food Advocates informs potentially eligible people about SNAP/Food Stamps. Our partnerships with emergency food distribution centers, social service and government agencies, and other community organizations allow us to reach people who may be unaware of SNAP/Food Stamps, or who otherwise think they do not qualify. Please call (615) 385-2286 for pre-screening, for a SNAP/Food Stamp application, or with questions about SNAP.
SNAP/Food Stamp Advocacy
In addition to connecting eligible populations through SNAP/Food Stamp Outreach, Community Food Advocates also helps people who have questions or concerns after applying for or receiving SNAP/Food Stamps. We work with both State and Davidson County Department of Human Services (DHS) staff, and with SNAP/Food Stamp applicants and recipients, to clear up misunderstandings about benefits. When disagreements related to SNAP/Food Stamp amounts come up, we assist people by learning about their specific SNAP/Food Stamp case and sometimes advocating with them at a “fair hearing” with DHS administrators.
Please call Community Food Advocates at (615) 385-2286 if you disagree with a DHS decision about your Food Stamps case, or if you have questions regarding your case.
