Hopeless: How the "HOPE Act" created barriers to SNAP in Kansas

middle-aged man standing in a grocery store

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a food assistance program that reduces hunger, improves dietary intake, bolsters local economies, and lifts people out of poverty. Kansas created unfair and unjust barriers making the program difficult for Kansans who may be struggling to make ends meet. This report identifies these barriers and makes clear that this legislation must be overturned.

Published 2020-03-02
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a food assistance program that reduces hunger, improves dietary intake, bolsters local economies, and lifts people out of poverty.
Kansas created barriers making the program difficult for people to access and exacerbating racial disparities. These barriers are unfair and unjust, making it harder for Kansans who may be struggling to make ends meet.
This report examines SNAP’s purpose and history. The primary focus is identifying barriers created by the so-called “HOPE Act” legislation passed in 2015 and 2016 in Kansas. Ultimately, this report makes clear that these barriers must be removed so all Kansans can thrive.