Food stamps mulled for poor permanent residents

The CNMI government, through the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, has filed an application for a $3 million grant that would allow the inclusion of poor permanent residents in the federal Nutrition Assistance Program.

This was disclosed by DCCA Secretary Cecilia T. Celes Friday, who said the funds would come from the stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Permanent residents are foreign nationals who were granted permanent residency immigration status on island.

In Fiscal Year 2009, the CNMI food stamp program was allocated $10.8 million, the bulk of which goes to low-income U.S. citizens.

Celes said there are approximately over 200 permanent residents who may be eligible for food stamps but are barred because of the citizenship requirement.

“Our staff have noted a significant number of low-income permanent residents that may qualify for the food stamp program,” she said, adding that the number may go up as a result of the current economic crunch.

Celes said part of the $3 million stimulus grant, if approved, is also being eyed for use in building local capacity by giving “employment” to NAP recipients.

The idea, she said, is to employ these people with government agencies but their wages will be paid by a portion of $3 million grant.

“Our target is to give short-term jobs and training to the clients, maybe a year, until they actually get a job from either the government or private sector,” she said.

Celes described the proposal as a “win-win” situation for both NAP and its clients because the long list of recipients will be eliminated once they find job opportunities.

Saipan Tribune learned that the number of food stamp recipients dropped in the last three years due to the increase in the minimum wage, attrition because of noncompliance with rules, and many recipients moving off-island.

In October 2008, the agency provided assistance to 7,606 clients, a small drop compared to the 7,694 in the same period in 2007.

DCCA had 8,192 recipients in October 2006.

It was noted that the increase in minimum wage from $3.05 to $3.55 and now $4.05 also resulted in the ineligibility of some for the assistance.

DCCA presently extends $133 monthly assistance to a household size of one, if the income is zero. The maximum monthly income allowable, meanwhile, for a household size of one is $541.

In terms of dollar value, DCCA issued $620,259 worth of food stamps in October 2008; $618,866 in October 2007; and $674,375 in the same period in 2006.

For November 2008, DCCA recorded 7,593 recipients, valued at $622,408, compared to only $603,353 for 7,516 clients in November 2007.

The Division of Nutrition Assistance Program in the CNMI, also known as the Food Stamp Program, was established to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well being of Commonwealth residents by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income, zero-income and needy families and individuals