Tomorrow's SNAP Coalition Agenda + NEW Zoom link, other webinars/resources

FoodSNAP
12/06/21
This eblast has a number of announcements and information for Coalition tomorrow - please note the changed Zoom link for Coalition and use this link tomorrow. Note this is the LAST Coalition meeting for 2021. There is NO Coalition the week of December 20th.  The Coalition will meet on the 4th Tuesday of most months starting in 2022.
 
1. Coalition tomorrow, Tues 12/7 from 10-11:30: Zoom link and agenda
 
Agenda:
  • Federal updates including “Build Back Better Act” and pending legislation
  • State legislative updates including Hunger Free Campus Bill, Universal School Meals, SNAP Gap, and status of Food Security funding in the ARPA package on Gov Baker’s desk!
  • SNAP Policy Updates: DTA's SNAP team will not be able to join us, but we will discuss how SNAP applications are going, local office access issues, replacement/misfortune SNAP, and immigrant eligibility/issues for newly arriving Haitians arriving in MA. Most of all, we want to hear from you - what experiences are you/your client having? What are the challenges folks are facing?
  • Emergency Broadband Benefit – overview of EBB changes and how to connect low income households to help paying for internet/computer
  • Presentation by ABCD on applying for fuel assistance (and see video below) 
Zoom link (note, updated link!!)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89331685051?pwd=WjJMMUZKVWtTWUdERmp6WjQvRXFIZz09

Meeting ID: 893 3168 5051
Passcode: 684247
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,89331685051#,,,,*684247# US 
 
2. Two FRAC webinars this week! 
 
Leveraging Your Lived Expertise to Influence and Drive Public Policy
Tuesday, Dec 7, 2021 02:00 PM
Register HERE
 
**Event is in English and Spanish, and specifically designed for people with lived/living expertise with poverty and hunger.**

Conversation with Barbie Izquierdo, Jimmieka Mills, and (our very own Massachusetts advocacy start!!) Diane Sullivan on how and why organizations should engage people with lived and living experiences with hunger and poverty. The team will welcome those with lived and living experience, as they host a community discussion on ways of leveraging their individual and collective lived expertise to catalyze policy change. The group will hold space to share learnings on the importance of influencing decision-makers, building a network, and mitigating re-traumatization.
 
Tapping SNAP Household Surveys to Help Inform Policy — Updated Results
Wednesday, Dec 8 2021 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
 
This webinar will share the latest results from Propel of SNAP household survey responses on their experiences during COVID-19, including on their challenges paying for food, housing, utilities, and other basics. Propel’s free app is used by over 5 million Americans across the country to manage their SNAP benefits. Visit joinpropel.com to learn more. 
 
3. Hot off the press: Fighting Hunger by Connecting Cross-Sector Partners and Centering Lived Expertise
 
The Center for Health Care Strategies released this fantastic report, co-authored by our fantastic Coalition member Diane Sullivan. We highly recommend reading it and considering how to implement some of the recommendations  in your work/with your organization! 
 
This report was informed by experts with lived experience, state policymakers, and representatives from national health care and social services organizations, who were invited to reimagine how to address hunger by increasing cross-agency partnerships and involving people with lived expertise in co-identifying solutions.
 
4. Fuel Assistance resources
 
ABCD will share information/resources on Fuel Assistance at tomorrow's coalition as well! Here are some useful resources:
  • HeatinghelpMA.org has resources, eligiblity information, and info on how to apply
  • call 1-800-632-8175 for resources
  • Watch this video from MASSCAP and encourage low income households to apply today!