Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida launched its Benefits Connection Program at the peak of the Great Recession. Connecting people to food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was a new approach for the Food Bank. Still, with thousands of workers unemployed, it was a vital resource to help keep food on the table.
About half of the applications were denied six months into the program due to challenges that prevented applicants from completing a required phone interview. With the support of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Second Harvest’s board of directors, the Benefits Connection team began completing interviews on behalf of DCF – the first agreement of its kind in Florida. This proved to be a significant turning point for the Benefits Connection program, and within a few months, the number of approved SNAP applications doubled!
The Benefits Connection program has responded to the community’s needs several times, pivoting from in-person applications through community partner sites to a phone bank model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the specialists are back to a face-to-face approach. The program serves Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. An updated schedule of when and where to find SNAP application assistance is available online.
Facts about Benefits Connection
- Since 2008, Benefits Connection has submitted 65,178 applications, representing 110,738 Central Floridians.
- The program has helped facilitate over $110 million in benefits.
- According to the USDA, each $1 in SNAP benefits represents $1.79 in economic impact, equating to $196.9 million in local impact in Central Florida.
Who Uses SNAP in Central Florida
- Using Benefits Connection program data, the average SNAP benefit amount per household in Central Florida is $227 monthly, close to the State’s average of $232 (USDA, SNAP SAR 2016).
- 51% of those receiving SNAP in Central Florida are not expected to work, including children (20.4%), seniors (11%) and people with disabilities (10.4 %).
- The remaining recipients are low-wage or part-time workers, adults receiving job training that comply with federal regulations, individuals over 50 years old and unemployed, and persons physically unable to work.
The Benefits Connection Program is one way Second Harvest is helping families experiencing food insecurity.
