The Program offers nutritional help to families and individuals with low income; SNAP also empowers communities economically. The organization works with nutritionists, federal agencies, the adjacent communities and faith-based organizations. People are helped to make informed decisions on applications and benefits of the program. Those who are eligible (low income families and individuals) are issued with Electronic Benefits Transfer cards which operate like the ATMs; the cards are used to buy food at a subsidized price from authorized dealers (Gustafson, 2017, p. 2-8).
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The program runs a special nutritional plan for a particular group of children, infants and women. The organization offers grants to the state to cater for healthcare referrals, nutrition education and foodstuff. The eligible people are children and infants of less than five years, breastfeeding, pregnant and non-breastfeeding postpartum women who are at the risk of nutrition (Kenyon-George, Emick, Bush, " Kim, 2015, p. 6-11).
Medicaid
It provides health care insurance to millions of people in the US. Most of the eligible people are children, elderly adults, low-income adults, people with disabilities and pregnant women. The program is managed by the states as per the federal requirements. Medicaid is funded by both the federal government and states (Paul, 2010, p. 8).
Pell Grant
The Pell Grants are only offered to undergraduate students with low income and are pursuing their degrees. The students’ financial capability is determined by the American Department of Education by use of a formula derived by the Congress. The method evaluates the economic data extracted from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are imprisoned in state or federal penal institution do not qualify for the grants. These grants are unlike loans; they are not paid back unless under exceptional circumstances (Koshy, 2014, p. 9-13).
Unemployment Compensation
This is a program managed by the state to compensate unemployed workers who lost their jobs as a result of retrenchment or layoffs. Unemployment Compensation is programmed to give financial support to the jobless people until they get employed. The unemployment compensation is the only source of income to majority members of the jobless group. For one to be considered to be eligible, there are specific criteria that should be met by the unemployed worker. One of the requirements is that the person should have worked for a period that is stipulated and is seriously searching for a job. The enrolled person will get the financial support until he finds a job. The program is also known as unemployment benefits (Klop, 1949, p. 2-11).
FHA loans
The FHA loan is a home loan issued by a private lender and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Federal Housing Administration loans are granted to moderate to low-income borrowers are not financially able to take a large down payment. Currently, borrowers are not allowed to borrow more than 96.5% of the home value. For one to qualify for the loans one must attain a credit score of 580 or else; the borrower will need to pay a down payment of 10%. The FHA loans have made it easy for low-income people to buy property.
The programs mentioned above are warranted since they play a significant role not only in the peoples’ lives but also to the country’s economy. Without these organizations, there could have been high crime rate that is related to joblessness. Fortunately, this has been reduced as people are getting financial support as they are looking for jobs. The programs have reduced high mortality rate that could have been experienced since pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under five years are considered. The programs have reduced illiteracy level since students from low-income families are supported financially to complete their studies. People from low-income families can access quality medication through Medicaid.
Since not every can afford a decent life, for instance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is considered as the country’s nutrition cornerstone. It has helped reduce poverty and hunger since most of the Americans can find a meal through the program, therefore, reducing the level of food insecurity. The program allows people to meet nutritional needs thus leading good health. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program are as well important since it takes care of a particular group that is expensive to take care of. Majority of these group members are vulnerable to different diseases, but based on this program, health rated cases have been reduced. Since the programs are well designed, it is my wish that they continue operating as they are for the benefit of the Americans.
References
Gustafson, A. (2017). Shopping pattern and food purchase differences among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households and Non-supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households in the United States. Preventive Medicine Reports, 7(1), 152-157. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.06.005
Kenyon-George, L. G., Emick, J. E., Bush, J. P., " Kim, S. (2015). Breastfeeding Duration: Comparison of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Non-WIC Supported Families. PsycEXTRA Dataset, 2(4), 2-30.
Klop, B. T. (1949). Unemployment Compensation. Commission Agents Held Employees under Unemployment Compensation Act. Virginia Law Review, 35(6), 802.
Koshy, T. (2014). Pell and Pell–Lucas Numbers. Pell and Pell–Lucas Numbers with Applications, 115-149.
Paul, K. J. (2010). 2. The Launching of Medicaid: 1965 to 1980. The Politics of Medicaid, 3(4), 4-17.
