Did you know nearly 1 million Floridians, including many on Medicaid and SNAP, could miss out on $742 million in CARES Act Stimulus payments if they don’t file a simple form by November 21?
The Safety Net Advocacy Coalition (SNAC) is a group of organizations and individuals committed to defending and strengthening Florida's safety net programs. Members represent 89 organizations: food banks, local funders and foundations, research and advocacy groups, and direct service and community-based organizations.
SNAC members receive timely policy updates from FPI and national researchers, participate in learning webinars and meetings, and mobilize together to propose policy solutions informed by the real-life experiences of safety net program participants. These programs include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), Medicaid, and Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Insurance).
SNAC successfully mobilized against several bills that would have endangered Floridians' economic security: legislation that would have made permanent a cut to retroactive Medicaid coverage, a bill that would have imposed Medicaid work requirements, and legislation that would have increased TANF non-compliance sanctions.
March 24: SNAC urges safety net protections and policy changes amid the COVID-19 crisis. FPI and 44 other organizations send a letter to Gov. DeSantis urging him to take immediate steps to bolster the state’s safety net, with 47 specific policy recommendations.
April 4-7: Newspapers across the state, including Ocala Star Banner, Tampa Bay Times, Palm Beach Post, The Florida Times-Union, Miami Herald, mention/cite the SNAC sign-on letter.
July 21: SNAC sends a letter to DeSantis urging him to reverse course on reinstituting work requirements for SNAP and TANF in the midst of the pandemic. FPI and 52 groups sign on, and the letter is featured in the Orlando Sentinel.
July 25: The Daytona Beach News Journal opinion editor publishes an editorial urging the state to hold off on reinstating work search and recertification requirements for safety net programs. FPI is mentioned in the write-up. Nine other editorial boards from across the state publish identical pieces.
July 29: The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) announces that work requirements for SNAP and TANF will be suspended through the end of August.
Sept. 3: A new blog post by Cindy Huddleston and Anne Swerlick calls on state agencies administering safety net programs to be more transparent so that families can get better information on policy changes.
Sept. 4: DCF announces that SNAP and TANF work requirements will be waived through October.
The Safety Net Advocacy Coalition works to defend and strengthen Florida's safety net programs. Over 89 community based organizations, advocacy groups and social service providers are represented. The group receives monthly newsletters, training opportunities, and collaborate on calls to action and policy recommendations. To join SNAC or for more information contact: Cindy Huddleston, Senior Policy Analyst & Attorney, huddleston (at) floridapolicy.org
