Looking back: Food Stamps Panel

In the Fall 2012 semester, Stein Scholars organized a panel discussion on Food Stamps.

From Stein Scholar April Harris '15E:

Our panel included Mark Dunlea of the Hunger Action Network, Heather MacDonald of the Manhattan Institute, Robert Doar (HRA Commissioner), Lawrence Mead (Political Science Professor at NYU), and Nicholas Freudenberg (Public Health Professor at Hunter College). Further, Professor Marcella Silverman (a former legal aid attorney and current clinical associate professor here at Fordham) served as our moderator. The panelists debated the recent repeal of the finger imaging requirement for Food Stamp recipients.

Considering my background in welfare advocacy, the discussion was particularly insightful in that it exposed the challenges HRA faces in managing an effective public benefits system. Beyond this, the panel also allowed me to consider how public benefits touches on other areas. For example, Professor Freudenberg shared some data in how the Food Stamp program granted low income communities access to healthier food choices.