For Immediate Release

Catholic Charities President asks Secretary Vilsack for SNAP benefits for protected Haitians

February 22, 2010

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, and particularly the Haitian employees and clients of Catholic Charities of Boston, I am writing to request that USDA issue favorable guidance that will allow desperate Haitians who are granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to be eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 

Designating Haiti for TPS after the earthquake was the moral action to take and we are grateful to Secretary Sebelius for doing so.  Extending SNAP benefits to Haitians who legally qualify is the next moral action to take.  The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute conducted an analysis explaining why Haitians granted TSP have a special status that should meet the definition of “Cuban/Haitian entrant” under section 501(e) of the Refugee Assistance Act of 1980, (Public Law 96-422).  Their analysis is attached to this letter.  We believe USDA should use its authority and discretion to issue guidance which will allow Haitians granted TPS to qualify for SNAP and other federal nutrition benefits as “Cuban/Haitian entrants” based on the special status they will receive as a result of the earthquake.

While TPS will provide Haitians with work authorization, we are concerned that many of those individuals may only find entry level, low wage jobs and will need work supports including SNAP to meet basic living expenses for their families.  Others will not find work at all and may need SNAP benefits as a defense against hunger.

As you may know, Massachusetts has the third largest Haitian population in the United States.  The Patrick Administration and Massachusetts state agencies are doing admirable work helping Haitians and others receive information about their loved ones in Haiti, setting up clinics with the Department of Homeland Security to provide information on immigration options, readying health care supplies to ship to Haiti and preparing for Haitians who need medical care in Massachusetts. Non-profits, such as Catholic Charities through our Haitian Multi Service Center, are providing TPS clinics and basic needs support through our food pantries and employment programs.  We are finding that even Haitians who are here as legal permanent residents are requiring food support because they are sending much of the wages they earn in Massachusetts to Haiti relief efforts.

While we continue to support granting TPS for eligible Haitians living in the U.S., the next proper step is to extend SNAP benefits for Haitians granted TSP because of this natural disaster.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

 

Tiziana C. Dearing
President

 

cc:  The Honorable Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary
The Honorable Julie Paradis, Deputy Undersecretary