More than 400,000 Philadelphia residents—over a quarter of the city’s population—receive food stamps, which are now called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Despite the overwhelming use of this public benefit, there are still more than 150,000 Philadelphians who qualify for but don’t receive SNAP.

To connect more residents with this vital nutrition program, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger launched the SNAP Campaign in 2002, with funding from the USDA. Since then, the Coalition has assisted more than 38,500 households and now screens more than 7,000 Philadelphians for food stamps each year.

The SNAP Campaign helps Philadelphia residents through:

• The Food Stamp (SNAP) Hotline (215-430-0556)

Operated by staff and volunteer counselors, the hotline allows callers to apply for SNAP benefits by phone.

• On-Site Screenings

To date, the Coalition has trained more than 450 volunteers to conduct screenings and application assistance at health centers and other sites.

• Case Management  

The Coalition advocates for applicants or participants wrongly denied SNAP benefits. With the cooperation of Philadelphia's County Assistance Offices, the Coalition resolves the majority of the 100-plus cases it handles each month.

Calls to the Food Stamp (SNAP) Hotline have soared in recent years. In 2009, the Coalition screened 8,107 Philadelphia residents for SNAP benefits (75% of whom were eligible) and submitted 4,984 applications. 

The Coalition also provides free trainings on SNAP applications to social service agencies in the Philadelphia region.