The Coalition on Human Needs released a report this week that details how the effects of the recession may linger into the next generation. The report includes testimony from Witness to Hunger Crystal Sears on the positive impact of increased food stamp allotments.
With the title "The Recession Generation: Preventing Long-term Damage from Childhood Poverty and Young Adult Joblessness," the report highlights recent research and recommends legislative action on five issues that directly impact the well-being of young children and their families: jobs, child care, nutrition assistance, tax credits, and youth employment. The goal is to enact legislation that will prevent the negative effects of the recession from hindering today's children as they grow into adulthood.
In addition to statistics and budget goals, however, the Coalition added a human component to the report by including stories of people affected by each of the report's policy areas. Witness Crystal Sears testifies on the positive impact that an increase in SNAP (food stamp) benefits had on her family. "This has helped my household a great deal," she says. "I have children with medical problems and I have to watch their sodium and sugar intake. With the additional allotment, I can make better choices for my children, and that helps a lot."
Read the entire report here (Crystal's testimony is on page 18), or find a summary article in the Huffington Post by clicking here.