FOOD CO-OPS & HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS PROJECTnfca.coop/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Community... ·...
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FOOD CO-OPS & HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS PROJECT Neighboring Food Co-op Association // Cooperative Fund of New England // Hunger Free Vermont COMMUNITY PARTNER VERIFICATION GUIDELINES For “Food For All” Needs-Based Discount Programs Community Partner Verification As part of the Food For All eligibility and verification process, co-ops allow FFA applicants to demonstrate eligibility by bringing a letter from a community partner agency verifying that the member is in need of assistance affording food. Community Partner Agencies should provide direct service to low-income community members. These might include a food pantry, homeless shelter, or other social service agencies (see ideas in list below). Individual Co-ops may determine who is a Community Partner Agency. Community Organizations We recommend initially partnering with two or three community organizations. Potential Community Partners might include your local: • Food shelf • Homeless shelter or other homeless service agency • Community Action Agency • Meal site • Faith communities providing programs for low-income community members • Agency on Aging • Senior Center Setting Clear Expectations to Demonstrate Financial Need It is up to your co-op to work with community partners to set clear expectations about what demonstrates financial need. Some things to consider: • Be creative and flexible in what demonstrates need. An individual or household may demonstrate need by simply participating in some program that the organization offers. Try to keep the expectations simple and clear. • Need is not solely based on income. Some households may be burdened with very high living expenses, like medical payments or student loans. Many households whose incomes are too high to qualify for federal benefits like SNAP are still in great need. • Many individuals and families who are working are still not making enough to make ends meet. • Respect the privacy of applicants and the time of the community partner agency by not asking them to collect information that they don’t already collect. For example, asking about income, even an income range, may feel invasive and not be part of the standard protocol for the organization. Contact: Bonnie Hudspeth, Membership & Outreach Manager Micha Josephy, Program Manager Neighboring Food Co-op Association Cooperative Fund of New England [email protected] // www.nfca.coop [email protected] // www.coopfund.coop Faye Conte, Advocacy & Education Director Hunger Free Vermont [email protected] // www.hungerfreevt.org For more info on the Food Co-ops & Healthy Food Access project visit: www.nfca.coop/healthyfoodaccess
Transcript of FOOD CO-OPS & HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS PROJECTnfca.coop/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Community... ·...
FOOD CO-OPS & HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS PROJECT Neighboring Food Co-op Association // Cooperative Fund of New England // Hunger Free Vermont
COMMUNITY PARTNER VERIFICATION GUIDELINES For “Food For All” Needs-Based Discount Programs
Community Partner Verification As part of the Food For All eligibility and verification process, co-ops allow FFA applicants to demonstrate eligibility by bringing a letter from a community partner agency verifying that the member is in need of assistance affording food. Community Partner Agencies should provide direct service to low-income community members. These might include a food pantry, homeless shelter, or other social service agencies (see ideas in list below). Individual Co-ops may determine who is a Community Partner Agency.
Community Organizations We recommend initially partnering with two or three community organizations. Potential Community Partners might include your local:
• Food shelf • Homeless shelter or other homeless service agency • Community Action Agency • Meal site • Faith communities providing programs for low-income community members • Agency on Aging • Senior Center
Setting Clear Expectations to Demonstrate Financial Need It is up to your co-op to work with community partners to set clear expectations about what demonstrates financial need. Some things to consider:
• Be creative and flexible in what demonstrates need. An individual or household may demonstrate need by simply participating in some program that the organization offers. Try to keep the expectations simple and clear.
• Need is not solely based on income. Some households may be burdened with very high living expenses, like medical payments or student loans. Many households whose incomes are too high to qualify for federal benefits like SNAP are still in great need.
• Many individuals and families who are working are still not making enough to make ends meet. • Respect the privacy of applicants and the time of the community partner agency by not asking them to collect
information that they don’t already collect. For example, asking about income, even an income range, may feel invasive and not be part of the standard protocol for the organization.
Contact:
Bonnie Hudspeth, Membership & Outreach Manager Micha Josephy, Program Manager Neighboring Food Co-op Association Cooperative Fund of New England [email protected] // www.nfca.coop [email protected] // www.coopfund.coop
Faye Conte, Advocacy & Education Director Hunger Free Vermont [email protected] // www.hungerfreevt.org
For more info on the Food Co-ops & Healthy Food Access project visit: www.nfca.coop/healthyfoodaccess
