Target Takes Food Stamps

categories: Corporations, Federal, Government, Health & Healthcare, Housing, Hunger, Jobs & Unemployment, Policy, Race Ethnicity Class & Gender, Social Programs, stimulus, The Economy

Published September 21, 2009 @ 06:00AM PT

So many Americans are now using food stamps that more and more chain stores have begun accepting them, rather than lose these customers to economic hardship. New or expanded recipients include Target, CVS, 7-11, Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club.

Food stamp use was up 22% this summer from 2008, with more than 35M Americans using them. Food stamps now come on a card identical to a debit or credit card, offering discretion and privacy for Americans self-conscious about relying on public assistance. For businesses, Costco finds that food stamp users spend an additional $50 or so on purchases not covered by the benefit.

There's a message in here about economic hardship becoming mainstream, becoming normal. I'm trying to generalize it to an ideal world where one is not punished for being poor, where a low-income parent can stand in line at the grocery store without a sense of shame - that she's even at the better grocery store rather than an overpriced bodega or food bank is an accomplishment. (Of course, see the original link above to understand transportation issues.)

Expanded food stamp acceptance at more stores is one of these situational responses that becomes permanent. From the sound of it, businesses have to invest in some degree of technological or process change to accept these cards. These are likely not upgrades that will be rolled back once the recession really lifts. As anti-poverty activists, we should be thinking about emergency services and about long-term changes we can push through during moments of crisis. Yes, we've got to expand eligibility for food stamps so all the many million more bellies don't go hungry, but if there was ever a moment to update the poverty measure to reflect the costs of housing, health care or decline in wages - It's Now.

(Photo "Coupon Time at Target" by cote)

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Comments (10)

I applied for Food Stamps more than a month ago(End of July). TX is so back logged, my phone eligibility interview is not until this Oct. 22nd. Perhaps I can get Food Stamps and Food by Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Posted by Rachel Russell on 09/21/2009 @ 11:12AM PT
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Good luck, Rachel. Even people who have jobs are finding it hard to pay all the bills. What they generally do is skimp on food and medicine. Many states are backlogged. Maryland is too, and Maryland is considered to be more well off. What has happened though, is that Maryland is also overwhelmed handling all the people filing for unemployment and for food stamps.

Posted by Barbara McNamara on 09/21/2009 @ 01:14PM PT
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Do you know that the three wealthiest men in the World could end WORLD HUNGER! #3 333333333333333333333 I am outraged! I can't even say anymore!

Posted by Renee Seabrooks on 09/27/2009 @ 09:09PM PT
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I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. Lots of things happened. I can only be grateful that the actual 'Food Stamps' are not stamps anymore, but are disbursed as a debit card. For more info on my story & opinions, please feel free visit my blog: http://satansez.wordpress.com

Thanks for writing this article and informing the public!

Posted by Satan Sez on 09/21/2009 @ 03:17PM PT
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It can and will happen to many more unfortunatley, I have been their-homeless mainly due in part not being able to afford a efficency apartment in San Francisco they wanted 1st month rent-last month rent and a deposit all at once! I was devestated, I had quit doing drugs-I am a writer and wanted to write, could'nt find a job that supported this kind of rents even had someone who wanted to be a roomate-I ended up homeless-seriously addicted than ever before I almost died several times-sick from sleeping in the rain-no food-NO ROOM AT THE IN-Thanks Food not Bombs for the soup and bagles I will never ever forget you! I was homeless for 5 years not 2 nights!

Posted by Renee Seabrooks on 09/27/2009 @ 09:17PM PT
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While this IS a good thing, I must admit to stifling a giggle each time I've view the pic for this. There's a bit of irony involved considering that the headline is about Target and food stamps and there's not one thing clearly visible in the cart that would be food stamp eligible. Just one of those little details I always manage to notice.

As Satan Sez mentioned, it's not a place most who end up on food stamps think they'll ever end up but lot of things - or combinations of things - can cause you to land in a place where they're you're only real option for survival.

Posted by Danetta Amschler on 09/24/2009 @ 06:43PM PT
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This is why you should be writing for PiA! :)

Posted by Leigh Graham on 09/24/2009 @ 06:54PM PT
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I am disabled & have been on the foodstamp program most of my Adult life. I Applade Target for starting to recognize that We are consummers too!

Posted by Kari Dyrdahl on 09/27/2009 @ 12:37PM PT
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Poverty can happen to anybody! Before you judge another person, walk a mile in their shoes! You could loose your job, loose your home and job from fire, earthquake, your company relocating to another country, lost all your money on wall street, etc. So, before you judge you better thank God your're OK and have some compassion for your fellow human beings! Just remember, poverty can happen to anybody over night!

Posted by Luvenia C. Coleman on 09/30/2009 @ 05:55AM PT
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Well,, As I been thinking alot about the subject of how expensive the food is getting and the packages are getting smaller..It had me irate just the other day to know that we are hard working law abiding people who pay our taxes everyday and work hard every day of the week and find ourselves going without eating or possibly eating one meal a day, half of us are probably lucky if were getting TV now a days,,while the Murderers and rapist sit in prison even some have been on death row for so long most have forgotten about them,, But you can bet that they are eating 3 meals a day and watching cable TV under air condition,,half the time this summer we turned off our air condition to save on Electric Bills so we CAN buy some groceries for the week..Its pathetic to think that OUR tax money is what is paying for these Murderers and Rapist to live that good! It is IRate.. I think we should have a choice on weather we want our taxes to pay for that,, I would rather be putting my taxes towards feeding the innocent animals whos only crime was being abandoned or abused, not paying for the MURDERERS AND RAPIST! to eat 3 meals a day while we sit out here and work towards eating one meal a day..

Posted by Tamara Stafford on 10/01/2009 @ 02:46PM PT
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Author

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.