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USDA AND HHS HELP ENSURE ACCESS TO NUTRITION ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTERS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt issued a joint letter to governors clarifying the policies governing access to food stamps for individuals residing in faith-based and community drug and alcohol treatment centers.

"Faith-based and community organizations play a vital role in the lives of many Americans who seek to recover from drug or alcohol addiction," said Johanns. "Individuals trying to recover from their addictions should not have to choose between effective treatment programs or retaining their food stamp eligibility. It's important we all work together in partnership to ensure there are no barriers to vital nutrition assistance."

The letter issued to governors on August 26th underscored that a faith-based or community drug or alcohol treatment facility does not need to be licensed by the state in order for its residents to qualify for food stamps. As long as a facility is recognized by the State's Title XIX agency as furthering the purpose of rehabilitating drug addicts and/or alcoholics, the residents of the facility may retain their food stamp benefits and the facility itself may be an authorized food stamp retailer.

Johanns and Leavitt believe this policy of recognition, without requiring licensing, is equitable and consistent with Administration objectives and regulations calling for the equal treatment of faith-based and community organizations.

"Individuals should be able to participate in a range of different drug and alcohol addiction recovery programs, including those operated by faith-based and community organizations," said Leavitt. "We have informed all governors that there should be no barriers to Food Stamp participation for successful and proven recovery models such as those often used by faith-based and community treatment centers."

In 2004, USDA and HHS each issued a final general rule to ensure faith-based organizations will receive equal treatment when competing for federal funding opportunities within the framework of Constitutional church-state guidelines. This policy applies the standards of equal treatment to all federal, state, and local agencies, activities and programs, which are federally funded.

In January 2001, President Bush created the Faith-Based and Community Initiative to ensure all groups -- faith-based or secular, large or small -- compete on a level playing field. President Bush established offices for faith-based and community initiatives in ten federal agencies, which work together to leverage the essential work of faith-based and other community organizations in a "determined attack on need."

The Food Stamp Program, administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, is the cornerstone of federal nutrition assistance programs and provides crucial support to needy households. The program serves more than 25 million people. For more information on the Food Stamp Program and USDA, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ .