Nebraska Hunger and Poverty Policy Questions

Please read these questions and let us know what your organization and others in the Cornhusker State are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction that helps those in need.

Virtually all states have budget deficits and extensive financial problems this year and beyond.  The states are also the custodians and administrators of multi billions of dollars of federal assistance programs. State policies related to hunger and poverty contain a great deal of state money that is in short supply right now but much more federal money that can grow as the use of the programs grows.

These state policy questions are meant to begin a conversation about how states can deliver more services to their citizens who are facing extreme long term unemployment, hunger, home foreclosures and loss of health insurance and pensions. 

Please read them and let us know what your organization and others in your state are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction that helps those in need, especially the poorest of the poor, the millions of new poor, seniors, returning vets, children and the homeless.

Our intention is to create a place on our website that will highlight policy actions that state based organizations are taking and how they are proceeding.  We also hope to host a WhyHunger State Policy Award for the best state policies in the U.S.A.

1) Nebraska has a very high percent of its African-American population living below the Federal Poverty Level. Is there any effort to create programs targeting this sector in order to decrease poverty levels to at least national averages?
2) Nebraska does not have a Shared Work Program.  Why not?  Is there any effort to bring one to the state?
3) The percentage of students participating in both the School Break Program and School Lunch Program (36.9%) is below the national average of 45.56%.  Is there any effort underway to increase participation in either program?
4) Participation in the Summer Nutrition Program is among the lowest in the country.  Is there an effort to increase participation, perhaps by increasing advertising or the number of food distribution locations?
5) There is currently no WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program.  Is there any effort being made to introduce one?
6) Nebraska has the 6th highest Senior Farmers’ Market seasonal benefit at $48. However, there are no Farmers’ Markets participating in the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Is there any movement to get Farmers’ Markets involved in this program?
7) The average unemployment insurance weekly benefit is among the lowest in the country.  The duration of unemployment insurance is also one of the shortest in the nation. Is there any movement to increase the current rate and extend the duration?
8) 13% of taxpayers receive the federal EITC.  This is below the national average of 15%.  Is any effort being made to increase those receiving EITC?
9) In Nebraska, those earning the lowest income pay 11.1% of that income in taxes. Those earning the highest income pay 6.1% of their income in taxes. What is being done to alleviate the tax burden on low-income individuals?
10) Although there is a state Pre-K, only 6% of 4 year olds are enrolled.  This is below the national average of 23%.  Is there currently any effort to increase enrollment into state Pre-K?
11) Nebraska has the highest completion rate of high school students in the nation. What programs are in place, or what aspects of education in the state have created such high completion rates?
12) What other statewide policies or programs are you aware of that are helping to fight hunger and poverty, or are there any that are responsible for increasing it?

Please let us know what your organization and others in your state are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction to address these questions by contacting Executive Director and Co-Founder Bill Ayres at [email protected]

Feel free to inform us of any mistakes we may have made in any of these questions. Also we would appreciate any comments on policies or statistics that might have been overlooked.

WhyHunger