1
00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,434
-I lost my job,
couldn't pay my rent.

2
00:00:05,434 --> 00:00:07,701
-Many Washingtonians
know hunger

3
00:00:07,701 --> 00:00:09,934
and get help from
their local food bank.

4
00:00:09,934 --> 00:00:11,701
-It's here when I need it.

5
00:00:11,701 --> 00:00:14,100
-But as pandemic food benefits
dry up,

6
00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:17,133
there's growing concern
about a hunger cliff ahead.

7
00:00:17,133 --> 00:00:19,934
-Food insecurity is
at an all-time high.

8
00:00:19,934 --> 00:00:22,400
-Falling donations
and soaring food prices

9
00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:23,968
are adding to the challenge.

10
00:00:23,968 --> 00:00:26,734
-We've seen spikes
of 60%, 100%.

11
00:00:26,734 --> 00:00:28,067
-And lawmakers are working

12
00:00:28,067 --> 00:00:30,133
to take care
of the most vulnerable.

13
00:00:30,133 --> 00:00:32,701
-Our food banks'
shelves are bare.

14
00:00:32,701 --> 00:00:35,300
-What's being done
to stop community hunger

15
00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:37,567
as more than half a million
Washingtonians

16
00:00:37,567 --> 00:00:40,133
see a cut in their
emergency food benefits?

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00:00:40,133 --> 00:00:41,467
-Hunger is increasing.

18
00:00:41,467 --> 00:00:42,934
-Our panel weighs in.

19
00:00:42,934 --> 00:00:45,434
-This is hitting us
at the worst possible time.

20
00:00:45,434 --> 00:00:46,834
-The need still persists.

21
00:00:46,834 --> 00:00:50,467
-Digesting the state
and national nutrition crisis --

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00:00:50,467 --> 00:00:52,868
next on "City Inside/Out."

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00:00:52,868 --> 00:01:02,133
♪♪

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00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:11,300
♪♪

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00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:14,400
Welcome to this edition
of "City Inside/Out."

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00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,601
I'm your host, Brian Callanan.

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00:01:16,601 --> 00:01:19,133
A boost in food benefits
for those in need,

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which began in 2020
at the start of the pandemic,

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has ended this month.

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00:01:24,133 --> 00:01:26,300
Advocates say
that's put us on the edge

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of what they call
"a hunger cliff."

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00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,400
As millions of Americans
have to take

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00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,734
a $90 to $250 monthly cut
in food assistance.

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00:01:34,734 --> 00:01:37,000
Lawmakers in Olympia
are responding

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00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,334
with a new funding measure

36
00:01:38,334 --> 00:01:39,968
aimed at boosting
our food supplies

37
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and bridging the gap

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00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:44,667
until the state's next
budget cycle begins in July.

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00:01:44,667 --> 00:01:48,200
But it's still a tenuous time
for many Washingtonians,

40
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,868
with high inflation
and an unsettled economy

41
00:01:50,868 --> 00:01:53,601
dishing out plenty of question
marks for the year ahead.

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-Well, now you see
what I'm doing.

43
00:01:56,601 --> 00:02:00,167
-Vickie Seat is always ready
to put in some extra work

44
00:02:00,167 --> 00:02:02,801
with the Hunger Intervention
Program in Lake City.

45
00:02:02,801 --> 00:02:05,067
-Does anybody know
where the steel wool is?

46
00:02:05,067 --> 00:02:07,367
-She's washing up
after her team's effort

47
00:02:07,367 --> 00:02:09,767
to make meals
for seniors in need,

48
00:02:09,767 --> 00:02:12,334
a population
that 66-year-old Vickie,

49
00:02:12,334 --> 00:02:14,634
who suffers from
macular degeneration,

50
00:02:14,634 --> 00:02:18,367
arthritis, and depression as
a survivor of domestic violence,

51
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says she's definitely a part of.

52
00:02:20,334 --> 00:02:22,234
-I've been in shelters.

53
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I was in a transition housing
for a year and a half,

54
00:02:25,367 --> 00:02:27,000
and now I have my own place.

55
00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,868
So, it's -- it's hard.

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00:02:30,868 --> 00:02:32,968
-Vickie is one of hundreds
of thousands

57
00:02:32,968 --> 00:02:34,667
across Washington state

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00:02:34,667 --> 00:02:37,434
who get help with their food
budget through SNAP,

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00:02:37,434 --> 00:02:39,968
the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program,

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formerly known
as food stamps.

61
00:02:41,834 --> 00:02:43,234
-They've helped me a lot.

62
00:02:43,234 --> 00:02:46,434
-The US government boosted
SNAP benefits three years ago

63
00:02:46,434 --> 00:02:48,234
at the start of the pandemic,

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but as of March of 2023,

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SNAP has been reduced back down
to pre-pandemic levels.

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-[ Laughs ]

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00:02:55,267 --> 00:02:57,801
-Vickie is keeping up
a good attitude,

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even though she's lost 95
very important dollars a month.

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00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,634
She tries to keep her focus

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00:03:03,634 --> 00:03:05,734
on the growing needs
of others around her.

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-I want to be helpful.

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Even with my help and stuff,
I try to be as helpful as I can.

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-And the reality is,
is that food insecurity

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00:03:14,567 --> 00:03:16,334
is at an all-time high.

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00:03:16,334 --> 00:03:18,334
-State Representative
Mia Gregerson

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00:03:18,334 --> 00:03:20,033
of the 33rd District in SeaTac

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00:03:20,033 --> 00:03:24,834
says, "We're on the edge of what
advocates call a hunger cliff."

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00:03:24,834 --> 00:03:27,968
More than 500,000 people
in our state have lost

79
00:03:27,968 --> 00:03:31,734
a total of nearly $100 million
a month in assistance.

80
00:03:31,734 --> 00:03:35,567
-Beginning next month, my food
budget will shrink dramatically.

81
00:03:35,567 --> 00:03:37,367
-That cut in SNAP benefits

82
00:03:37,367 --> 00:03:41,133
from $200 a month down to $23
in some cases

83
00:03:41,133 --> 00:03:42,868
comes at a time when inflation

84
00:03:42,868 --> 00:03:45,167
continues to affect
everyone's budget.

85
00:03:45,167 --> 00:03:46,968
-Human suffering is real,

86
00:03:46,968 --> 00:03:49,133
and we wanted to show
that we can get money

87
00:03:49,133 --> 00:03:52,467
into the pockets
of people quicker.

88
00:03:52,467 --> 00:03:56,100
-Gregerson is sponsoring
House Bill 1784,

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00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:59,601
an early-action measure
that would push $28 million

90
00:03:59,601 --> 00:04:02,767
towards relieving hunger
in Washington this spring.

91
00:04:02,767 --> 00:04:05,634
A temporary fix
before the state's budget cycle

92
00:04:05,634 --> 00:04:06,968
kicks in, this July.

93
00:04:06,968 --> 00:04:09,100
-And so, just trying
to ease that cliff,

94
00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:10,334
that's what we're trying to do.

95
00:04:10,334 --> 00:04:12,334
Also to give us time
to figure out

96
00:04:12,334 --> 00:04:14,901
how do we continue
to close the gap in poverty.

97
00:04:14,901 --> 00:04:18,100
-The bulk of the funding would
go to emergency food providers,

98
00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:19,601
and not a moment too soon.

99
00:04:19,601 --> 00:04:21,834
-Our food banks'
shelves are bare.

100
00:04:21,834 --> 00:04:24,767
-Statewide, food banks
are struggling to keep up

101
00:04:24,767 --> 00:04:26,534
with suddenly rising demand.

102
00:04:26,534 --> 00:04:28,767
-We already know that
a third of our customers

103
00:04:28,767 --> 00:04:30,300
are accessing
another food bank,

104
00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:31,767
and we just think that
that's going to deepen

105
00:04:31,767 --> 00:04:33,300
with the loss of
SNAP benefits.

106
00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:35,300
-Joe Gruber is
executive director

107
00:04:35,300 --> 00:04:36,868
of the U District Food Bank,

108
00:04:36,868 --> 00:04:40,634
which serves more than
1,200 households a month.

109
00:04:40,634 --> 00:04:42,601
But those numbers
are increasing,

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00:04:42,601 --> 00:04:44,000
part of a perfect storm,

111
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,501
along with low donations
and a price hike

112
00:04:46,501 --> 00:04:49,501
of at least 10%
from wholesale suppliers.

113
00:04:49,501 --> 00:04:54,601
-When we're buying $750,000
worth of food every year,

114
00:04:54,601 --> 00:04:57,467
that increase of 10%
makes a significant difference

115
00:04:57,467 --> 00:04:59,701
as to how much inventory
we have on our shelves.

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00:04:59,701 --> 00:05:02,133
-$20 million of
the state proposal

117
00:05:02,133 --> 00:05:05,100
would go towards food banks,
with the remaining $8 million

118
00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,567
going towards
a senior nutrition program

119
00:05:07,567 --> 00:05:10,400
and a boost to provide
more fruits and vegetables.

120
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,367
-That's exciting,
but it needs to be

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00:05:12,367 --> 00:05:13,734
kind of moved forward quickly.

122
00:05:13,734 --> 00:05:16,200
-I know you can do this.

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00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,467
You're going to make --
This is not a partisan issue.

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00:05:18,467 --> 00:05:20,701
-Our state's first lady
and others

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00:05:20,701 --> 00:05:25,100
helped gain unanimous support
for HB 1784 in the House.

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00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:28,634
-Substitute House Bill 1784 is
declared passed.

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00:05:28,634 --> 00:05:32,267
-But even with that state bill
working towards final approval,

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00:05:32,267 --> 00:05:35,467
federal leaders considering
the renewal of SNAP benefits

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00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:37,868
as part of the Farm Bill
this fall

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00:05:37,868 --> 00:05:41,567
still hold the long-term future
of food security in their hands.

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00:05:41,567 --> 00:05:42,834
-It's here when I need it.

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00:05:42,834 --> 00:05:45,968
-Will help for the hungry
be here in years to come?

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00:05:45,968 --> 00:05:49,501
That's the hope as state leaders
work on a temporary fix

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00:05:49,501 --> 00:05:52,601
to keep hunger in our state
from going off a cliff.

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00:05:52,601 --> 00:05:54,601
-Yeah, we're going to see food
on the shelves,

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00:05:54,601 --> 00:05:55,767
food in people's mouths.

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00:05:55,767 --> 00:05:58,334
-If I was able to,
I would support it

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00:05:58,334 --> 00:06:00,667
because of what they did for me.

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00:06:01,701 --> 00:06:02,734
-And joining us to discuss

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00:06:02,734 --> 00:06:03,968
this very important
issue further,

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00:06:03,968 --> 00:06:06,267
we have with us
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.

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00:06:06,267 --> 00:06:07,534
Thank you very much
for being here.

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00:06:07,534 --> 00:06:09,667
Represents our 7th
US Congressional District.

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00:06:09,667 --> 00:06:10,868
Really appreciate that.

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00:06:10,868 --> 00:06:12,501
We also have with us
Christina Wong,

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00:06:12,501 --> 00:06:16,367
director of public policy and
advocacy for Northwest Harvest.

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00:06:16,367 --> 00:06:17,734
Christina,
good to have you, too.

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00:06:17,734 --> 00:06:19,901
And we also have
Marie Spiker.

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00:06:19,901 --> 00:06:23,000
She is an assistant professor
at the University of Washington,

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00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,300
co-lead researcher

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00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:26,834
of Washington State's
annual Food Security Survey.

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00:06:26,834 --> 00:06:28,567
Dr. Spiker,
good to have you, too.

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00:06:28,567 --> 00:06:29,834
Let me jump right into it.

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00:06:29,834 --> 00:06:31,834
And Congresswoman Jayapal,
help us set the stage,

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00:06:31,834 --> 00:06:34,701
in terms of where we are
right now, in March of 2023.

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00:06:34,701 --> 00:06:35,868
At the start of this month,

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00:06:35,868 --> 00:06:38,000
about 30 million people
across the country

158
00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,534
saw their food assistance
benefits significantly reduced.

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00:06:40,534 --> 00:06:41,734
And we're talking about

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00:06:41,734 --> 00:06:43,801
the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program

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00:06:43,801 --> 00:06:45,033
here, folks, or SNAP.

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00:06:45,033 --> 00:06:47,501
We'll probably be using
that term a lot today,

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00:06:47,501 --> 00:06:48,801
formerly known
as food stamps here.

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00:06:48,801 --> 00:06:50,567
So, these benefits
were increased

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00:06:50,567 --> 00:06:52,834
at the start
of the COVID pandemic in 2020,

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00:06:52,834 --> 00:06:55,467
but now they're going back down
to pre-pandemic levels.

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00:06:55,467 --> 00:06:57,734
Before we get into exactly what
you're going to do about that,

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00:06:57,734 --> 00:06:59,133
can you tell us where we are,

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00:06:59,133 --> 00:07:01,033
your concerns about the people
who are impacted by this?

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00:07:01,033 --> 00:07:02,767
-Yeah. Well, thanks so much
for having me on,

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00:07:02,767 --> 00:07:06,300
and I'm glad to be here
with such experts on the topic.

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00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:10,400
Brian, this is about hunger,
food stamps, SNAP benefits.

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00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,067
It's about nutrition assistance.

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00:07:12,067 --> 00:07:15,534
And this is a benefit that
the federal government gives

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00:07:15,534 --> 00:07:17,133
to make sure
people are not hungry.

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00:07:17,133 --> 00:07:18,300
It's that simple.

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00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:20,467
We are actually
the only developed country

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00:07:20,467 --> 00:07:24,734
that requires things in order
to get these benefits.

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00:07:24,734 --> 00:07:26,901
Most countries,
developed countries

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00:07:26,901 --> 00:07:30,334
have this benefit built into
their safety net programs.

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00:07:30,334 --> 00:07:33,767
Here, with SNAP,
we've had the requirements

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00:07:33,767 --> 00:07:36,033
around needing to work,
for example,

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00:07:36,033 --> 00:07:38,000
a limited amount of time,

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00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,801
only three months
that you can you can get this

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00:07:40,801 --> 00:07:45,467
if you're an adult
without dependent children.

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00:07:45,467 --> 00:07:47,133
There are a number
of requirements

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00:07:47,133 --> 00:07:49,167
that we put on
these nutrition programs,

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00:07:49,167 --> 00:07:50,868
which in my view
are not helpful.

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00:07:50,868 --> 00:07:52,534
We should get rid of them.

190
00:07:52,534 --> 00:07:53,834
But where we are now

191
00:07:53,834 --> 00:07:56,501
is that we had additional
benefits during COVID.

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00:07:56,501 --> 00:07:57,667
Those have gone away.

193
00:07:57,667 --> 00:08:01,267
States are having to absorb
that problem.

194
00:08:01,267 --> 00:08:02,367
It's impossible to do

195
00:08:02,367 --> 00:08:04,334
because this is
a large number of people,

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00:08:04,334 --> 00:08:06,267
and hunger is increasing

197
00:08:06,267 --> 00:08:08,767
and food banks are seeing
increased activity.

198
00:08:08,767 --> 00:08:11,133
And so, that's really
what we're dealing with.

199
00:08:11,133 --> 00:08:14,734
We're also going to have
to re-authorize this program

200
00:08:14,734 --> 00:08:16,000
this summer with the Farm Bill,

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00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,234
and we can talk more about that.

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00:08:17,234 --> 00:08:18,634
-Thank you for bringing that up.

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00:08:18,634 --> 00:08:20,534
But, Christina,
I did want to talk about this,

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00:08:20,534 --> 00:08:22,734
in terms of the impact
this change has been --

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00:08:22,734 --> 00:08:25,200
a change in benefits
is having on Northwest Harvest.

206
00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:26,601
Are more people
coming to you for help?

207
00:08:26,601 --> 00:08:28,467
Has this impacted
your food supply?

208
00:08:28,467 --> 00:08:29,934
I know inflation is
still a big deal

209
00:08:29,934 --> 00:08:31,901
for everybody involved,
food banks included.

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00:08:31,901 --> 00:08:33,334
What's going on?

211
00:08:33,334 --> 00:08:35,334
-Thanks for that question,
Brian.

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00:08:35,334 --> 00:08:37,734
I would say that
this is hitting us

213
00:08:37,734 --> 00:08:39,767
at the worst
possible time, really.

214
00:08:39,767 --> 00:08:41,400
Food banks,
for the last few months,

215
00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,100
already have been seeing
a significant increase

216
00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:46,634
in the number of people
that are coming to our doors.

217
00:08:46,634 --> 00:08:48,968
Anywhere between 30% increase

218
00:08:48,968 --> 00:08:52,067
to some have even reported
double the amount.

219
00:08:52,067 --> 00:08:53,067
It's not surprising.

220
00:08:53,067 --> 00:08:54,400
I think all of us,

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00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,200
whether you've actually
had to go to a food bank or not,

222
00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,701
can see why this is happening.

223
00:08:58,701 --> 00:09:00,467
When you go into
your grocery store

224
00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:02,367
and you're seeing
this higher cost of food,

225
00:09:02,367 --> 00:09:04,334
when you're going to
fill up your gas tank

226
00:09:04,334 --> 00:09:05,901
and the higher cost of gas.

227
00:09:05,901 --> 00:09:09,367
So, and then, also, add into it
the higher cost of housing.

228
00:09:09,367 --> 00:09:13,000
So, across the board,
those higher costs mean that

229
00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,767
for somebody who is struggling
to put food on the table,

230
00:09:15,767 --> 00:09:18,200
the reason
why it's impacting them

231
00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:23,701
is because food is sort of
that flexible necessity.

232
00:09:23,701 --> 00:09:25,701
If somebody -- If I don't
pay my rent, for instance,

233
00:09:25,701 --> 00:09:27,334
my landlord is going to
knock on my door

234
00:09:27,334 --> 00:09:28,634
with an eviction notice.

235
00:09:28,634 --> 00:09:30,334
But if I skip a meal
in order to save that money

236
00:09:30,334 --> 00:09:33,400
to pay the rent, nobody's going
to knock on my door.

237
00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,767
And with the cuts
to SNAP benefits

238
00:09:35,767 --> 00:09:38,000
that people are experiencing,

239
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,934
really their only other option
is the food bank.

240
00:09:40,934 --> 00:09:42,968
It's that safety net.

241
00:09:42,968 --> 00:09:44,501
The reason why I say it's
hitting us at the worst time

242
00:09:44,501 --> 00:09:48,667
is because we are challenged
by the same challenges

243
00:09:48,667 --> 00:09:50,868
that are driving people
to come to our food bank.

244
00:09:50,868 --> 00:09:53,267
The higher cost of food,
the higher cost of gas

245
00:09:53,267 --> 00:09:55,200
has all been impacting
our supply.

246
00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,634
For Northwest Harvest,
our current food inventory

247
00:09:57,634 --> 00:10:00,033
is 80% lower than what it was
this time last year.

248
00:10:00,033 --> 00:10:01,334
-Wow. And I want to dive into

249
00:10:01,334 --> 00:10:02,501
some of these solutions
in a bit,

250
00:10:02,501 --> 00:10:04,133
but thanks for laying
all that out there.

251
00:10:04,133 --> 00:10:06,367
Dr. Spiker, I'd love to hear
some more numbers from you here.

252
00:10:06,367 --> 00:10:07,868
Just in terms of what you found

253
00:10:07,868 --> 00:10:10,534
in your recent
statewide food security survey,

254
00:10:10,534 --> 00:10:13,601
if you could first explain
to us what food insecurity is,

255
00:10:13,601 --> 00:10:15,267
and then talk about
where this statistic

256
00:10:15,267 --> 00:10:17,300
has been going over the past
three years in our state

257
00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:19,033
because that trend
has not been positive.

258
00:10:19,033 --> 00:10:20,601
-Yeah.
So, thanks for that question.

259
00:10:20,601 --> 00:10:21,801
Thanks for having me.

260
00:10:21,801 --> 00:10:23,601
When we're talking
about food insecurity,

261
00:10:23,601 --> 00:10:25,100
we are talking about hunger.

262
00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:26,634
We're talking about households

263
00:10:26,634 --> 00:10:28,734
who are struggling
to afford food.

264
00:10:28,734 --> 00:10:31,300
There's an element of quantity.

265
00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:33,934
How long is this food
going to last

266
00:10:33,934 --> 00:10:35,834
before I have the money
to get more?

267
00:10:35,834 --> 00:10:38,234
There's also
an element of quality.

268
00:10:38,234 --> 00:10:41,434
Can people get access to foods
that they want to be eating,

269
00:10:41,434 --> 00:10:43,434
balanced meals, things
that they're excited about,

270
00:10:43,434 --> 00:10:45,400
things that they know
are good for them.

271
00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,334
And when we're measuring
food insecurity,

272
00:10:47,334 --> 00:10:49,634
we're also picking up
on this element of worry.

273
00:10:49,634 --> 00:10:51,968
Are you worried about where your
next meal is going to come from?

274
00:10:51,968 --> 00:10:54,300
Are you worried about
where your kids' next meal

275
00:10:54,300 --> 00:10:55,567
is going to come from?

276
00:10:55,567 --> 00:10:57,200
So, these are the things
that we pick up on

277
00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,801
when we're measuring
household food insecurity.

278
00:10:59,801 --> 00:11:01,968
And I am part of a team
of researchers

279
00:11:01,968 --> 00:11:04,868
at the University of Washington
and Washington State University.

280
00:11:04,868 --> 00:11:09,400
We recently conducted a fourth
round of statewide survey data

281
00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,133
from households here
in Washington state.

282
00:11:11,133 --> 00:11:13,901
And what we're seeing
from a survey

283
00:11:13,901 --> 00:11:18,234
that was open December of 2022
into January of 2023.

284
00:11:18,234 --> 00:11:20,968
So, sort of a snapshot
in time of recently,

285
00:11:20,968 --> 00:11:22,300
just a couple of months ago

286
00:11:22,300 --> 00:11:24,701
and before any of the extra
pandemic boosts to SNAP

287
00:11:24,701 --> 00:11:25,968
have expired.

288
00:11:25,968 --> 00:11:27,634
As of that time,

289
00:11:27,634 --> 00:11:30,200
when we look at our
just over 5,000 respondents --

290
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:31,601
and I want to note
that we over-sampled

291
00:11:31,601 --> 00:11:33,667
among lower-income households --

292
00:11:33,667 --> 00:11:35,968
we see that among that sample,
about half,

293
00:11:35,968 --> 00:11:40,267
so 49% of our respondents were
experiencing food insecurity.

294
00:11:40,267 --> 00:11:42,267
So, about half
of our respondents

295
00:11:42,267 --> 00:11:45,868
in that 5,000 households sample

296
00:11:45,868 --> 00:11:47,400
struggling to afford food,

297
00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,033
having that sense of worry

298
00:11:49,033 --> 00:11:50,801
about "Where's my next meal
going to come from?

299
00:11:50,801 --> 00:11:52,934
Where's my kids' next meal
going to come from?"

300
00:11:52,934 --> 00:11:55,634
And, Christina, you mentioned
this idea of skipping meals.

301
00:11:55,634 --> 00:11:58,901
With food insecurity, we start
to see concerning things

302
00:11:58,901 --> 00:12:02,434
that we know affect people's
nutrition and health status.

303
00:12:02,434 --> 00:12:05,334
We started to see in our data,
actually, across the board,

304
00:12:05,334 --> 00:12:08,067
whether people are experiencing
food insecurity or not,

305
00:12:08,067 --> 00:12:10,801
a lot of coping strategies
that families are engaging with

306
00:12:10,801 --> 00:12:12,934
to deal with higher food prices.

307
00:12:12,934 --> 00:12:15,000
Across the board,
80% of our sample

308
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,534
said that they are concerned

309
00:12:16,534 --> 00:12:19,300
about higher food prices
in the next six months.

310
00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:22,033
But among our households
experiencing food insecurity,

311
00:12:22,033 --> 00:12:24,033
93%, almost universally,

312
00:12:24,033 --> 00:12:26,601
they are worried
about high food prices.

313
00:12:26,601 --> 00:12:28,067
And so, some of
the coping strategies

314
00:12:28,067 --> 00:12:29,767
that we see in the data,

315
00:12:29,767 --> 00:12:33,234
yes, people are choosing,
you know, eating out less,

316
00:12:33,234 --> 00:12:34,400
changing where they're shopping,

317
00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,834
but importantly,
with implications for nutrition,

318
00:12:36,834 --> 00:12:39,234
buying less produce,
less fruits and vegetables,

319
00:12:39,234 --> 00:12:41,601
less dairy, less meat,
those nutrient-rich foods

320
00:12:41,601 --> 00:12:43,467
that we know are really
important for people's health.

321
00:12:43,467 --> 00:12:45,334
-And I was amazed
to find that people

322
00:12:45,334 --> 00:12:46,901
are more concerned
about food prices

323
00:12:46,901 --> 00:12:48,567
than they are about
rent prices right now,

324
00:12:48,567 --> 00:12:49,968
which was the first time ever,

325
00:12:49,968 --> 00:12:51,334
as I understand it
from your study there.

326
00:12:51,334 --> 00:12:52,901
Thank you
for breaking that down.

327
00:12:52,901 --> 00:12:55,334
I would like to go back to you,
Christina, here, and talk about

328
00:12:55,334 --> 00:12:57,300
some of the short-term solutions
going on here.

329
00:12:57,300 --> 00:12:58,901
The state is working on
this plan,

330
00:12:58,901 --> 00:13:02,234
a pretty rare early-action bill
to pump $28 million

331
00:13:02,234 --> 00:13:04,167
into food benefits
over the next several months.

332
00:13:04,167 --> 00:13:07,267
Basically tide these things
over in our state until July,

333
00:13:07,267 --> 00:13:08,868
when the next
budget cycle begins.

334
00:13:08,868 --> 00:13:11,067
What's that going to do?
Talk to us about that.

335
00:13:11,067 --> 00:13:12,968
-Thanks for that question.

336
00:13:12,968 --> 00:13:16,400
So, this is House Bill 1784,

337
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,234
put together
by Representative Mia Gregerson

338
00:13:19,234 --> 00:13:22,200
and Representative Timm Ormsby.
That's really important, right?

339
00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,467
Because we're talking about
the vice chair and the chair

340
00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:29,367
of House Appropriations
hearing from community programs

341
00:13:29,367 --> 00:13:31,601
about how we don't have
resources

342
00:13:31,601 --> 00:13:33,901
to meet this immediate
hunger cliff

343
00:13:33,901 --> 00:13:35,400
that's happening in March.

344
00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,567
It's not something
that we were able to plan for,

345
00:13:38,567 --> 00:13:40,067
certainly not something
that we could turn around

346
00:13:40,067 --> 00:13:41,801
and raise money
in the private sector

347
00:13:41,801 --> 00:13:43,467
on such a short time frame.

348
00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:45,901
And so, they are proposing

349
00:13:45,901 --> 00:13:49,067
for this current
state fiscal year --

350
00:13:49,067 --> 00:13:50,667
So, this is just
to take us through,

351
00:13:50,667 --> 00:13:52,901
as you said, to June 30th.

352
00:13:52,901 --> 00:13:55,300
It is $28 Million in total.

353
00:13:55,300 --> 00:14:00,133
And that certainly
is not backfilling

354
00:14:00,133 --> 00:14:03,934
the loss of SNAP benefits coming
from the federal government.

355
00:14:03,934 --> 00:14:06,534
That is a total
of around $95 million

356
00:14:06,534 --> 00:14:08,901
that we are losing
every month.

357
00:14:08,901 --> 00:14:12,000
But what it is doing
is it is shoring up

358
00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,000
the ability
of community programs

359
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,033
to be able to respond
in three ways.

360
00:14:16,033 --> 00:14:19,167
The first is to put some
funding into our food banks

361
00:14:19,167 --> 00:14:22,200
so that we can have
assistance with buying food,

362
00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:26,067
also paying some of those gas,
transportation issues for food.

363
00:14:26,067 --> 00:14:28,868
The second program area
is for senior meals

364
00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:30,601
because it's actually
low-income seniors

365
00:14:30,601 --> 00:14:32,300
who are living on their own,
who only qualify

366
00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:34,968
for what's called
the minimum SNAP benefit.

367
00:14:34,968 --> 00:14:37,234
And I want to take a quick
moment just to explain that

368
00:14:37,234 --> 00:14:38,734
for those individuals,

369
00:14:38,734 --> 00:14:40,701
the cut in SNAP benefits
is going from

370
00:14:40,701 --> 00:14:45,968
over $250 per month during COVID
to just $23 per month.

371
00:14:45,968 --> 00:14:48,701
-And so, this gives them
the ability to go get a hot meal

372
00:14:48,701 --> 00:14:50,200
or have a meal delivered
to them,

373
00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:51,767
instead of having to come
to the food bank.

374
00:14:51,767 --> 00:14:53,701
And then, the last area
is what we call

375
00:14:53,701 --> 00:14:56,033
our SNAP-match programs
or the produce match.

376
00:14:56,033 --> 00:14:58,100
So, when people go
to the grocery store,

377
00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:00,634
use their SNAP benefits
to buy fruits and vegetables,

378
00:15:00,634 --> 00:15:04,434
as Dr. Spiker was just saying,
is a high-cost item, right?

379
00:15:04,434 --> 00:15:08,400
So, that helps increase
the spending ability of SNAP

380
00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,667
to be able to afford
those fruits and vegetables,

381
00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:13,334
and they get matching dollars
to be able to buy more.

382
00:15:13,334 --> 00:15:15,834
-Great. Congresswoman Jayapal,
you've heard a little bit

383
00:15:15,834 --> 00:15:17,834
about what our state lawmakers
are working on.

384
00:15:17,834 --> 00:15:19,634
And I know you said in a tweet
a couple of weeks ago,

385
00:15:19,634 --> 00:15:21,701
"The situation we're in
is unacceptable.

386
00:15:21,701 --> 00:15:23,267
It's time to step up
and do more."

387
00:15:23,267 --> 00:15:24,868
Talk to us about that.
What does that mean?

388
00:15:24,868 --> 00:15:26,467
What are you working
on at the federal level?

389
00:15:26,467 --> 00:15:28,400
We can talk about the Farm Bill,
wherever you want to go.

390
00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,200
-Well, two things.
First, you know,

391
00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,267
during the pandemic time,
the Progressive Caucus,

392
00:15:33,267 --> 00:15:36,000
which I chair,
was absolutely key

393
00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,968
in making sure we got
these expanded SNAP benefits.

394
00:15:38,968 --> 00:15:41,000
And I think it's important
for everyone to understand

395
00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,934
that this is both
the right thing to do

396
00:15:42,934 --> 00:15:45,834
to help people
who need food, basic food.

397
00:15:45,834 --> 00:15:48,100
It's also driving our economy.

398
00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:51,334
I mean, when you see
cutbacks in benefits,

399
00:15:51,334 --> 00:15:54,334
it affects grocery stores,
it affects jobs,

400
00:15:54,334 --> 00:15:55,968
it affects our entire economy.

401
00:15:55,968 --> 00:15:58,834
So, it's actually both
a self-preservation thing

402
00:15:58,834 --> 00:16:02,901
and a bigger community
responsibility.

403
00:16:02,901 --> 00:16:05,834
Second, this cut in benefits,

404
00:16:05,834 --> 00:16:07,968
that going back
to pre-pandemic levels,

405
00:16:07,968 --> 00:16:12,367
is pushing about 32 million
Americans into a hunger cliff,

406
00:16:12,367 --> 00:16:15,200
about half a million
in Washington state

407
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,100
who are really going to be
at the bottom of the barrel,

408
00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:21,367
in terms of this cut
to benefits.

409
00:16:21,367 --> 00:16:26,400
Third, we think about food
stamps or SNAP benefits --

410
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:27,834
I like to say
nutrition assistance

411
00:16:27,834 --> 00:16:29,334
because a lot of people
don't know what SNAP is --

412
00:16:29,334 --> 00:16:30,534
-Right.

413
00:16:30,534 --> 00:16:32,000
-...but nutrition
assistance programs

414
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,234
as being maybe something
in Health and Human Services.

415
00:16:34,234 --> 00:16:36,067
It's not. It actually,
in the federal government,

416
00:16:36,067 --> 00:16:38,734
it comes through a bill
called the Farm Bill.

417
00:16:38,734 --> 00:16:42,567
The Farm Bill gets re-authorized
every certain number of years.

418
00:16:42,567 --> 00:16:44,167
And this year is the year

419
00:16:44,167 --> 00:16:46,934
that the Farm Bill gets
re-authorized.

420
00:16:46,934 --> 00:16:48,901
Part of what's happening
is we need to make up

421
00:16:48,901 --> 00:16:51,133
for the benefits
that people are losing,

422
00:16:51,133 --> 00:16:54,934
which I have not much hope is
going to happen, unfortunately,

423
00:16:54,934 --> 00:16:57,667
because the House
is in Republican control.

424
00:16:57,667 --> 00:16:58,734
And we need to make sure

425
00:16:58,734 --> 00:17:00,501
that when we reauthorize
the Farm Bill,

426
00:17:00,501 --> 00:17:03,367
that we do better
than even what we had before,

427
00:17:03,367 --> 00:17:06,334
but at a minimum,
keep it at the same level.

428
00:17:06,334 --> 00:17:10,601
The Republicans just introduced
this week, two days ago,

429
00:17:10,601 --> 00:17:14,734
a bill to cut SNAP, to cut
nutrition assistance programs.

430
00:17:14,734 --> 00:17:19,267
They want to make it
a longer period of time,

431
00:17:19,267 --> 00:17:21,767
essentially, where you
would be eligible for --

432
00:17:21,767 --> 00:17:23,934
where you would be required
to have work benefits.

433
00:17:23,934 --> 00:17:25,868
And they want to cut
the actual benefit.

434
00:17:25,868 --> 00:17:28,534
And to me, this is just cruelty.

435
00:17:28,534 --> 00:17:31,601
We are at a time
of tremendous difficulty

436
00:17:31,601 --> 00:17:33,667
across the country
with higher inflation,

437
00:17:33,667 --> 00:17:35,767
all the costs that Christina
was talking about,

438
00:17:35,767 --> 00:17:38,601
all the food insecurity that
Dr. Spiker was talking about.

439
00:17:38,601 --> 00:17:42,133
And they are saying
that the way to make this better

440
00:17:42,133 --> 00:17:43,901
is through more
work requirements.

441
00:17:43,901 --> 00:17:45,734
We know that doesn't work.

442
00:17:45,734 --> 00:17:49,267
And we also know that this is --

443
00:17:49,267 --> 00:17:52,033
They're framing this
in terms of cutting costs.

444
00:17:52,033 --> 00:17:55,000
But listen, the deficit, which
they're so concerned about,

445
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,634
is made up of two things --
spending and revenue.

446
00:17:57,634 --> 00:17:59,701
The president
has great proposals

447
00:17:59,701 --> 00:18:01,934
to make the -- bring in revenue

448
00:18:01,934 --> 00:18:04,367
through increasing taxes
on the wealthiest

449
00:18:04,367 --> 00:18:06,300
that would bring in
a lot more money

450
00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:08,567
than any cut to SNAP
would bring in.

451
00:18:08,567 --> 00:18:10,133
So, that's the work
we have to do,

452
00:18:10,133 --> 00:18:12,934
is reauthorize the Farm Bill
and make sure

453
00:18:12,934 --> 00:18:17,834
that the nutrition assistance
program is stronger, not weaker.

454
00:18:17,834 --> 00:18:19,133
-Thank you.
And I'd like to engage,

455
00:18:19,133 --> 00:18:21,801
if I could, some of that
criticism from Republicans

456
00:18:21,801 --> 00:18:24,100
who are saying, you know,
this is a program

457
00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:28,701
that is somehow making people
more dependent on benefits, etc.

458
00:18:28,701 --> 00:18:30,300
And I just want to make sure
I touch on this.

459
00:18:30,300 --> 00:18:32,767
And Dr. Spiker, it's a
devil's advocate question here,

460
00:18:32,767 --> 00:18:34,033
but I want to engage that.

461
00:18:34,033 --> 00:18:35,534
Are we making
more dependent people,

462
00:18:35,534 --> 00:18:37,033
more dependent on aid programs,

463
00:18:37,033 --> 00:18:38,767
not helping them
be more self-sufficient?

464
00:18:38,767 --> 00:18:40,133
Can you touch on that?

465
00:18:40,133 --> 00:18:43,267
-You know, when you look
at who participates

466
00:18:43,267 --> 00:18:46,133
and benefits from
the SNAP program nationwide,

467
00:18:46,133 --> 00:18:50,367
I think about 43%
are children, 16% are seniors.

468
00:18:50,367 --> 00:18:52,767
So, more than half
are children and seniors,

469
00:18:52,767 --> 00:18:55,033
people for whom going
and getting a job --

470
00:18:55,033 --> 00:18:57,434
that argument doesn't hold.

471
00:18:57,434 --> 00:18:59,734
And the other thing is,
you know, for --

472
00:18:59,734 --> 00:19:01,334
I do hear that sentiment a lot.

473
00:19:01,334 --> 00:19:03,467
And what I ask people
to think about is

474
00:19:03,467 --> 00:19:07,367
that if anyone finds
themself in a time in their life

475
00:19:07,367 --> 00:19:10,634
that they have the luxury
of not thinking so much

476
00:19:10,634 --> 00:19:11,901
about their grocery costs,
right?

477
00:19:11,901 --> 00:19:13,767
So many people, when you go to
the grocery store,

478
00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:15,234
we're having sticker shock.

479
00:19:15,234 --> 00:19:17,234
We're adding up the prices
in our heads, right,

480
00:19:17,234 --> 00:19:18,701
at the checkout line.

481
00:19:18,701 --> 00:19:19,968
And if you're a person

482
00:19:19,968 --> 00:19:21,801
that that's not a part
of your daily life,

483
00:19:21,801 --> 00:19:23,200
that's not a part
of your reality,

484
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,834
just the next time
at the grocery store,

485
00:19:24,834 --> 00:19:26,167
to really pay attention

486
00:19:26,167 --> 00:19:28,868
to what's going on
with food prices.

487
00:19:28,868 --> 00:19:30,601
Right now, or as of January,

488
00:19:30,601 --> 00:19:32,601
I think the average price
of a carton of eggs --

489
00:19:32,601 --> 00:19:33,834
Does anybody know what it is?

490
00:19:33,834 --> 00:19:36,100
-Oh, boy. It's up over $3,
isn't it, right now?

491
00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:37,501
-It's $4.82.
-Okay.

492
00:19:37,501 --> 00:19:39,367
-It's $4.82, which is just --

493
00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:40,834
-That's a lot.
-It's a lot. It's a lot.

494
00:19:40,834 --> 00:19:44,234
I think a year ago
it was commonplace to be able

495
00:19:44,234 --> 00:19:46,567
to find a carton of eggs
for under $2.

496
00:19:46,567 --> 00:19:48,267
And so, you know,
a lot of things driving that.

497
00:19:48,267 --> 00:19:52,701
One is the avian flu epidemic
that's been happening worldwide.

498
00:19:52,701 --> 00:19:54,300
But when you look
at something like

499
00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:55,901
almost $5
for a carton of eggs,

500
00:19:55,901 --> 00:19:57,200
or you go to certain
grocery stores,

501
00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,701
you look around,
and you're seeing them for $6,

502
00:19:58,701 --> 00:20:01,133
$7, $8, $9 for a carton of eggs.

503
00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:03,734
And you think about
that $5 carton of eggs,

504
00:20:03,734 --> 00:20:05,968
that hits a household budget
differently

505
00:20:05,968 --> 00:20:09,434
when you earn $15 an hour
than when you earn $40, right?

506
00:20:09,434 --> 00:20:11,534
I mean, 20 minutes of work
for a carton of eggs

507
00:20:11,534 --> 00:20:12,934
that you can go through
that carton of eggs

508
00:20:12,934 --> 00:20:14,634
in a single breakfast,
cooking for your family.

509
00:20:14,634 --> 00:20:16,300
-Please.
-But also, the other thing

510
00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:19,300
about work requirements
is the vast majority --

511
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:23,501
it's a tiny percentage
of people who don't work

512
00:20:23,501 --> 00:20:26,634
when they're in the category
of work requirements.

513
00:20:26,634 --> 00:20:29,033
It is not true
that the majority of people

514
00:20:29,033 --> 00:20:31,634
are trying not to work
and stay home.

515
00:20:31,634 --> 00:20:33,400
And so, I think
we really have to

516
00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,200
take on that whole notion that,

517
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,567
A, people aren't working
if they're able to,

518
00:20:39,567 --> 00:20:43,701
and B, that it helps at all to
increase self-sufficiency.

519
00:20:43,701 --> 00:20:47,634
Because the reality is, if you
don't, if you're not able to eat

520
00:20:47,634 --> 00:20:49,734
and your children
aren't able to learn,

521
00:20:49,734 --> 00:20:51,634
it is actually hurting you,

522
00:20:51,634 --> 00:20:54,000
your family,
and the entire community

523
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,767
because people are not able
to do the things

524
00:20:56,767 --> 00:20:58,367
that we need them to do.
-Thank you.

525
00:20:58,367 --> 00:21:00,267
And I want to move on to another
point here, if I could.

526
00:21:00,267 --> 00:21:02,267
And, Christina, maybe I can
start with you,

527
00:21:02,267 --> 00:21:04,367
because I do think about
these short-term solutions

528
00:21:04,367 --> 00:21:05,367
that we're dealing with here.

529
00:21:05,367 --> 00:21:06,667
But then, I start thinking about

530
00:21:06,667 --> 00:21:09,501
the long-term systemic solutions
that are needed, as well.

531
00:21:09,501 --> 00:21:11,834
And as important as the work
of Northwest Harvest is,

532
00:21:11,834 --> 00:21:12,968
I know there's a part of you

533
00:21:12,968 --> 00:21:14,567
that wishes we could get
to better solutions

534
00:21:14,567 --> 00:21:16,601
and that a service like
that wasn't needed.

535
00:21:16,601 --> 00:21:18,901
Talk to me about
longer-term systemic changes,

536
00:21:18,901 --> 00:21:21,667
the way our nation approaches
hunger and income inequality,

537
00:21:21,667 --> 00:21:24,767
because I think those two
are inextricably linked.

538
00:21:24,767 --> 00:21:27,501
-Well, I think the Congresswoman
knows this best, right?

539
00:21:27,501 --> 00:21:30,534
That the fact
that we have poverty,

540
00:21:30,534 --> 00:21:32,267
the fact that we have
child poverty,

541
00:21:32,267 --> 00:21:37,868
it is a policy choice,
as well as a morality choice.

542
00:21:37,868 --> 00:21:40,467
What the pandemic
has really shown us

543
00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:45,067
has been things like
the expanded child tax credit,

544
00:21:45,067 --> 00:21:46,367
for instance.

545
00:21:46,367 --> 00:21:48,901
You could see,
while that was in place,

546
00:21:48,901 --> 00:21:53,067
literally hunger
for households with children

547
00:21:53,067 --> 00:21:57,300
dropped by 40% as soon as those
expanded benefits went in place.

548
00:21:57,300 --> 00:21:59,167
And then when they stopped
going in place,

549
00:21:59,167 --> 00:22:00,367
guess what was the percentage

550
00:22:00,367 --> 00:22:01,767
that child hunger
went back up again?

551
00:22:01,767 --> 00:22:03,601
-It was 40%.
-Yeah.

552
00:22:03,601 --> 00:22:05,501
-Also, the reason why

553
00:22:05,501 --> 00:22:07,501
we're experiencing
this hunger cliff now

554
00:22:07,501 --> 00:22:11,801
is because of the cut
to the temporary boost

555
00:22:11,801 --> 00:22:13,133
to SNAP benefits.

556
00:22:13,133 --> 00:22:16,200
We would really love
to see in the Farm Bill

557
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:20,701
the recognition that SNAP
benefits need to be modernized

558
00:22:20,701 --> 00:22:25,033
in order to be able to afford
just even basic nutrition.

559
00:22:25,033 --> 00:22:26,701
They are currently
based on something

560
00:22:26,701 --> 00:22:28,434
called the Low-Cost Food Plan.

561
00:22:28,434 --> 00:22:30,834
I mean, sorry,
the Thrifty Food Plan,

562
00:22:30,834 --> 00:22:33,834
which is sort of a market basket
that USDA has put together

563
00:22:33,834 --> 00:22:36,667
to help guide people about,
based on their budgetary needs,

564
00:22:36,667 --> 00:22:38,300
what they could afford to buy.

565
00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:39,868
The Thrifty Food Plan
was designed

566
00:22:39,868 --> 00:22:43,634
for emergency purposes only,
not for basic nutrition.

567
00:22:43,634 --> 00:22:45,934
There's a study that's been done
before that has said

568
00:22:45,934 --> 00:22:48,133
that, essentially,
with food prices today,

569
00:22:48,133 --> 00:22:51,100
it's like asking a family
of four to live on a fish stick

570
00:22:51,100 --> 00:22:52,567
and a slice of cheese.
-Wow.

571
00:22:52,567 --> 00:22:55,834
-So, we have been advocates

572
00:22:55,834 --> 00:22:59,300
for going up to the next-level
market basket,

573
00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:01,100
which is the Low-Cost Food Plan.

574
00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:03,167
And that would increase
SNAP benefits

575
00:23:03,167 --> 00:23:04,667
because, right now,

576
00:23:04,667 --> 00:23:09,400
even when we take out
the cost of living adjustments

577
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:10,767
and the changes that were made

578
00:23:10,767 --> 00:23:13,167
to the Thrifty Food Plan
last year,

579
00:23:13,167 --> 00:23:15,868
SNAP benefits are still on
average $2 per meal.

580
00:23:15,868 --> 00:23:17,601
-Wow. Thank you for that.

581
00:23:17,601 --> 00:23:18,868
We need to start
wrapping up the show.

582
00:23:18,868 --> 00:23:20,467
I thank you for
all of that input here,

583
00:23:20,467 --> 00:23:23,334
but maybe, Dr. Spiker, I can get
some last thoughts from you.

584
00:23:23,334 --> 00:23:24,367
Assuming there's some funding

585
00:23:24,367 --> 00:23:25,767
for another
food security survey,

586
00:23:25,767 --> 00:23:27,634
a fifth round
at the end of this year,

587
00:23:27,634 --> 00:23:28,901
what do you think
you're going to find?

588
00:23:28,901 --> 00:23:30,067
If you can give me
the one-minute version,

589
00:23:30,067 --> 00:23:31,367
that'd be great.

590
00:23:31,367 --> 00:23:33,334
-You know, the thing that
I think is the most important is

591
00:23:33,334 --> 00:23:35,968
just that we need
to keep measuring.

592
00:23:35,968 --> 00:23:39,133
And the idea that
our different programs

593
00:23:39,133 --> 00:23:41,234
might expand and contract,

594
00:23:41,234 --> 00:23:44,067
expand when there is need
and contract when there isn't.

595
00:23:44,067 --> 00:23:46,801
We can't make those decisions
without data.

596
00:23:46,801 --> 00:23:48,334
And, you know,
when we look at this data,

597
00:23:48,334 --> 00:23:50,534
this snapshot
as of a couple of months ago,

598
00:23:50,534 --> 00:23:52,601
we see that the need
still persists.

599
00:23:52,601 --> 00:23:55,334
And just because
pandemic protections are ending

600
00:23:55,334 --> 00:23:56,701
doesn't mean the need has ended,

601
00:23:56,701 --> 00:23:57,767
doesn't mean the pandemic

602
00:23:57,767 --> 00:24:00,300
and its multifold
economic impacts

603
00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:03,601
and these accumulated financial
stressors on households,

604
00:24:03,601 --> 00:24:05,767
doesn't mean that
those things have ended.

605
00:24:05,767 --> 00:24:07,667
And so, when we look
at this recent data,

606
00:24:07,667 --> 00:24:10,734
when we see that half of
the households in our sample

607
00:24:10,734 --> 00:24:12,934
are still struggling
with food insecurity,

608
00:24:12,934 --> 00:24:14,467
still struggling to afford food,

609
00:24:14,467 --> 00:24:16,834
still worrying about where their
next meal is going to come from,

610
00:24:16,834 --> 00:24:18,701
we see that still persisting.

611
00:24:18,701 --> 00:24:20,601
And so, it's tough for me to say

612
00:24:20,601 --> 00:24:22,000
what we might find
in the next round.

613
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,033
But I think the most important
thing is that

614
00:24:24,033 --> 00:24:26,367
we continue to measure
because we can't say

615
00:24:26,367 --> 00:24:28,267
if we're not measuring it,
the problem isn't there.

616
00:24:28,267 --> 00:24:29,934
As a researcher,
I can't abide that.

617
00:24:29,934 --> 00:24:31,400
-No. Thank you
for bringing that piece up.

618
00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:32,801
Christina, some final thoughts
from you?

619
00:24:32,801 --> 00:24:35,834
I know state lawmakers are still
talking about a lot of this

620
00:24:35,834 --> 00:24:37,667
as we record the show right now.

621
00:24:37,667 --> 00:24:39,234
And there is plenty of support
at the state capitol.

622
00:24:39,234 --> 00:24:41,067
But some final thoughts
for legislators

623
00:24:41,067 --> 00:24:42,100
in a minute, if you could.

624
00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:44,334
-Well, well.

625
00:24:44,334 --> 00:24:46,667
As, I would say, along the lines

626
00:24:46,667 --> 00:24:49,467
of what Dr. Spiker was saying,
is that food insecurity

627
00:24:49,467 --> 00:24:52,501
is something that we can expect
to be with us for the long term.

628
00:24:52,501 --> 00:24:56,801
We can also look at the history
that was set by what we saw

629
00:24:56,801 --> 00:24:59,834
during the economic recovery
from the Great Recession,

630
00:24:59,834 --> 00:25:02,667
which was that visits
to food banks

631
00:25:02,667 --> 00:25:05,801
actually spiked then
and then plateaued,

632
00:25:05,801 --> 00:25:07,801
never really came
fully back down.

633
00:25:07,801 --> 00:25:09,767
That's because people
are coming to food banks

634
00:25:09,767 --> 00:25:11,133
as their final safety net.

635
00:25:11,133 --> 00:25:13,434
And so, we really ask
the legislature

636
00:25:13,434 --> 00:25:16,167
to take into consideration
how they can help us out,

637
00:25:16,167 --> 00:25:17,901
not just by stocking
our shelves --

638
00:25:17,901 --> 00:25:19,000
that's certainly helpful --

639
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,033
but by funding
the variety investments

640
00:25:21,033 --> 00:25:22,167
in our human services

641
00:25:22,167 --> 00:25:24,133
that takes down the need
for food banks, as well.

642
00:25:24,133 --> 00:25:25,701
-Thank you for that.
Congresswoman Jayapal,

643
00:25:25,701 --> 00:25:27,501
I'll let you have
the last word here.

644
00:25:27,501 --> 00:25:28,601
You spent a lot of your career

645
00:25:28,601 --> 00:25:30,634
working on these issues
of inequality,

646
00:25:30,634 --> 00:25:32,300
of income inequality,
specifically,

647
00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:34,334
and hunger and food insecurity,

648
00:25:34,334 --> 00:25:35,801
I think, are
a piece of that, too.

649
00:25:35,801 --> 00:25:36,801
Where do we need to go?

650
00:25:36,801 --> 00:25:38,000
Help us wrap this up, please.

651
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,033
-Well, as Christina said,
and I've been saying,

652
00:25:40,033 --> 00:25:42,133
this is -- poverty
is a policy choice,

653
00:25:42,133 --> 00:25:45,100
a bad policy choice,
and we know how to fix it.

654
00:25:45,100 --> 00:25:46,601
We actually know how to fix it.

655
00:25:46,601 --> 00:25:48,367
We passed the child tax credit.

656
00:25:48,367 --> 00:25:51,667
We got survival checks
for people during the pandemic.

657
00:25:51,667 --> 00:25:54,501
We allowed people to have a
little bit more breathing room.

658
00:25:54,501 --> 00:25:56,467
We took away
some of the requirements

659
00:25:56,467 --> 00:25:59,133
that actually provide barriers
for the people

660
00:25:59,133 --> 00:26:01,667
who are most vulnerable
to access the programs.

661
00:26:01,667 --> 00:26:03,067
And we need to do that again.

662
00:26:03,067 --> 00:26:06,367
We need to make sure
that we are thinking about

663
00:26:06,367 --> 00:26:08,767
the basic needs of a family --

664
00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:11,367
That's food. That's education.

665
00:26:11,367 --> 00:26:12,801
That's a lot of these things

666
00:26:12,801 --> 00:26:15,100
that our social safety
net programs focus on.

667
00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:18,300
That those are investments
in all of our future,

668
00:26:18,300 --> 00:26:20,100
and that the way
to pay for that,

669
00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:23,267
we as a country
do not suffer from scarcity.

670
00:26:23,267 --> 00:26:24,734
We suffer from greed.

671
00:26:24,734 --> 00:26:26,801
We have a tax system
that's unfair

672
00:26:26,801 --> 00:26:29,667
and income inequality and wealth
inequality have really risen.

673
00:26:29,667 --> 00:26:31,167
So, I've got a lot of bills
for that,

674
00:26:31,167 --> 00:26:34,834
including a wealth tax, an
ultra-millionaires wealth tax.

675
00:26:34,834 --> 00:26:37,267
The president is proposing
some of these things.

676
00:26:37,267 --> 00:26:40,033
We actually got a couple of
revenue pieces passed

677
00:26:40,033 --> 00:26:41,801
in the last
Congressional budget.

678
00:26:41,801 --> 00:26:43,968
And so, that's the focus
that we need to have.

679
00:26:43,968 --> 00:26:46,968
Let's make sure people have
the basic needs taken care of.

680
00:26:46,968 --> 00:26:49,067
That is an investment
in all of us.

681
00:26:49,067 --> 00:26:50,567
-Thank you all
for the input here.

682
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:52,400
And we will be right back.

683
00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,834
♪♪

684
00:26:55,834 --> 00:26:57,934
What are people saying
on social media

685
00:26:57,934 --> 00:26:59,601
about the looming hunger cliff?

686
00:26:59,601 --> 00:27:01,100
One person writes...

687
00:27:07,234 --> 00:27:08,467
Another person says...

688
00:27:16,801 --> 00:27:18,801
We'd like to know
what you think.

689
00:27:18,801 --> 00:27:22,200
Send us an e-mail
at contact@seattlechannel.org,

690
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,167
or find us on Facebook,
Twitter, and Instagram.

691
00:27:26,167 --> 00:27:28,434
Coming up next time,
voters in King County

692
00:27:28,434 --> 00:27:30,534
will decide
in a special election

693
00:27:30,534 --> 00:27:31,601
whether to approve

694
00:27:31,601 --> 00:27:34,901
a $1.25 billion
mental health levy.

695
00:27:34,901 --> 00:27:37,434
Supporters say
more crisis centers are needed

696
00:27:37,434 --> 00:27:40,267
to serve the county's
2.3 million people.

697
00:27:40,267 --> 00:27:42,434
Get the details
before you cast your ballot

698
00:27:42,434 --> 00:27:44,167
on the next "City Inside/Out."

699
00:27:44,167 --> 00:27:45,467
-I hope you join us.

700
00:27:45,467 --> 00:27:53,834
♪♪

701
00:27:53,834 --> 00:28:02,300
♪♪