I am putting this info here because I have noticed that many folks are not aware of the fact that the homeless are eligible food stamps.
Homeless persons have all the same rights under the Food Stamp Program as persons who are housed. They also have some additional rights due to the fact that they are homeless. In addition, certain provisions in food stamp law that apply to all persons often particularly affect homeless people.
When is someone considered homeless?
You are considered "homeless" under the Food Stamp Program if you:
(1) have no fixed, regular place you sleep at night or;
(2) the place you sleep at night is one of the following:
(a) a shelter (which includes a welfare hotel or congregate shelter)
(b) a half-way house
(c) the home of someone else if you are there less than 90 days
(d) a place where people do not usually sleep such as a doorway, a lobby, a bus station, a hallway, or a subway. 7 CFR 271.2 (definition of "homeless individual")
Homeless persons are eligible for food stamps even if they live on the streets and do not have a mailing address. Homeless people cannot be denied food stamps simply because they lack a permanent address. 7 CFR 273.3(a).
Homeless people are also eligible for food stamps even if they live in a homeless shelter which provides them with meals. Homeless people cannot be denied food stamps only because they are living in a homeless shelter which serves meals.
You do not need a place to cook or store food to receive food stamps. 7 CFR 273.3(a). You cannot be denied food stamps solely because you lack a kitchen or other cooking facility
Where can homeless people use food stamps?
Homeless persons have the option of using their food stamps at places other than the grocery store or farmers market. Homeless persons can pay for meals at some soup kitchens and homeless shelters with food stamps. 7 CFR 278.2(b). These soup kitchens and shelters must be authorized by FNS to accept food stamps. They cannot force you to use your food stamps to pay for food at the shelter. They can only request that you voluntarily use your food stamps to pay for meals and cannot ask you to pay more than the average cost of meals at the shelter. 7 CFR 278.2(b). In addition, if the soup kitchen or homeless shelter gives other clients the option of eating free or making a monetary donation, you must be given the option of eating free, making a monetary donation, or using your food stamps to pay for the food. 7 CFR 278.2(b).
Homeless persons may use their food stamps at certain restaurants. Restaurants can contract with the state to serve meals to homeless persons at reduced prices in exchange for food stamps. 7 CFR 271.2 (definition of "eligible foods") If you are homeless and would like to be able to use your food stamps to purchase meals at restaurants, you should tell your food stamp caseworker. You will be given a specially-marked ID card which will allow you to buy meals at restaurants. 7 CFR 274.10(a)(4)(iii).
The food stamp caseworker is required to verify your identity. 7 CFR 273.2(f). There are many ways, however, that you may verify your identity. A photo ID is only one way. You should not be denied food stamps simply because you do not have a photo ID. To prove who you are, you can use such things as a work or school ID, an ID for health benefits, an ID from another social services program such as TANF, wage stubs, a birth certificate, or a voter registration card. The food stamp caseworker can also verify your identity by calling a "collateral contact" who can confirm you who are. Shelter workers and employers are examples of possible collateral contacts. If you have no paper documentation of who you are, you should ask the food stamp caseworker to call a collateral contact. 7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(C)(vii).
Homeless households are not required to verify where they live. If you are living in a shelter, however, it may be helpful to bring a letter to the food stamp office which is written by a shelter employee and says that you are living in the shelter.
What happens if a homeless person spends money on shelter?
Homeless people may spend money on shelter by doing such things as paying to stay with a friend, or paying to stay in a motel. If you can document those shelter costs, you may be able to deduct them from your gross income for purposes of determining net monthly income. (see section XX of FRAC Guide for more information on the standard shelter deduction and when it is used) If you are homeless and have spent money on shelter, but have no receipts or other documentation to prove how much you spent, you still may be able to receive a deduction in some states. Certain states have chosen to use what is called the "homeless shelter deduction" which allows people who are homeless, but who have spent money on shelter, to deduct a flat $143 from their gross income. Even if your state uses the homeless shelter deduction, you may not receive the deduction if you have extremely low shelter costs. If you can get more food stamp benefits by using the regular shelter deduction instead of the homeless shelter deduction, you should use the regular deduction. If your state does not use the homeless shelter deduction, you may want to advocate that your state elect to use it.
Do homeless people get any special help with receiving their benefits?
Food stamp offices are required to establish procedures that serve homeless persons. 7 CFR 273.2(a). If you are homeless, the food stamp office is required to give you assistance in receiving your food stamp benefits. 7 CFR 274.2(a). For example, the food stamp office may assist you by helping you to find an authorized representative or mailing your benefits to a shelter that you are staying at. The food stamp office cannot make you fill out report forms each month if you are homeless. 7 CFR 273.21(b)(1)(ii).
What are the rights of homeless youth?
If you are a young person who is living in a shelter or entirely alone, you should be able to apply for food stamps on your own. Your parent's income should not be used in calculating whether you are eligible for food stamps. If you are living in a shelter, you may want to bring a letter written by a caseworker at the shelter which says that you are living there.
I've just sent out an e-mail that included it to everybody in my address book--after which I shared it in one of my blogs.
Very thought provoking Michele. Thanks.
Aj could you possibly add the link to this thread to our billboard? I think it is important info that could be very helpful .
Thanks
Thank you my Dear!
Thank you!! I never knew you could do that. I'm so glad you took the time to look up all this information and shared it with all of us. Very interesting and greatly appreciated by I'm sure many that did not know this. This is great news to me that I will definately share with others. I wish I had a printer to print it out but I don't right now but I hope to get one maybe in the new year. Very interesting and helpful. Thank you dear michele. God Bless you and all others! Hugs!
Thank you Michele S. for your contribution about food stamps,
I just added this to Just4HomelessYouth.com/links for any who
read and did not know this helpful info. If not okay with you,
I will remove it promply and maybe add a link that might get clicked.
Thanks heaps,
Cheers, Freda
Of Course it is okay! It needs to be known.
Thank you for adding it to Just4HomelessYouth.
Great video collection by the way!
