Less than half of all U.S. immigrants who are eligible for food stamps (SNAP) actually receive them, according to the USDA. That figure is particularly troubling in Philadelphia, home to the second-hungriest Congressional District in the nation . The district, which spans Chester, South Philadelphia and parts of North Philadelphia, includes some of the largest immigrant communities in the city.

“Since immigrants and non-English speakers apply for food stamps (SNAP) at much lower rates than the rest of the population, they often experience a much greater risk of hunger,” said Natalie Bonomo, SNAP Campaign Manager at the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.

In order to reach these underserved groups, the Coalition Against Hunger recently launched the Immigrant Outreach Project. The Coalition has recruited local immigrant service agencies throughout Philadelphia, which will hire bilingual counselors to help community members apply for SNAP. 

Coalition staff will provide SNAP training and support to agencies that serve a range of populations, from the Greater Philadelphia Asian Social Services, which works with Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants in North Philadelphia, to Fixing Philly, a local nonprofit that will do applications in Arabic and Urdu.

“Many immigrant families find it hard to go to their County Assistance Office to apply for benefits,” said Bonomo. Many are daunted by the need to find a translator. Many are scared that applying for benefits will threaten their chance at citizenship. Some don’t know that even if they aren’t yet eligible for SNAP, their children who were born in the U.S. are.

“Through this project, families can now go to agencies they trust who can help them in their own language,” said Bonomo.

Funding to hire bilingual counselors was made possible by Way To Work Philadelphia!, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered by the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. (PWDC). The newly created counselor positions will go to low-income individuals with children from within the community they serve.

Learn more about the SNAP eligibility rules for immigrants