The crisis of government benefit reliance

OPINION:

The government shutdown took millions of Americans off government benefits, but two things can be true at once. Americans are generous, yes, but the recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) crisis can be the catalyst for those on government benefits to take responsibility, make hard decisions and stop relying on free money to support their way of life.

Depending on the government for long periods for basic needs stretches the nation’s budget and, more important, it produces a population of entitled people who believe they are owed money rather than required to make sacrifices and put in the hard work to support their own families.

That’s where we are right now. Almost 42 million Americans — more than 12% of the entire population — are on government funding for some kind of food assistance every month. I was one of these people when my oldest daughter was born. We were on food stamps and Medicaid. I get it, and I do not discount the fact that many of these families need a helping hand. However, many also need to take a hard look at their budgets, spending habits, and wants versus needs to reach a point where this crisis becomes an opportunity for self-sustainability and accountability.

One of my ministries, Loveline, helps (mostly) moms who are struggling to support their families and provide the basic necessities. Many are pregnant. We have rigorous financial counseling and a financial literacy program. We comb through their bank accounts with them and look at where they are spending money. It’s uncomfortable but necessary work. If we’re going to help them thrive, they have to learn how to take control of their finances. In the meantime, because of budget cuts, we recognize the need to put food on the table and have created the Loveline Grocery Fund to bridge that gap.

One of the most common attitudes with which these mothers come to us is a sense of entitlement — the belief that they “deserve” all the good things in life and shouldn’t have to tell their children no. When you’re buying groceries at a gas station and working a minimum-wage job, saying “no” is sometimes the most loving, responsible thing you can do. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the top item purchased with SNAP benefits is soda, with frozen pizza, ice cream, cookies and candy also ranking in the top 20. “No” is an acceptable and necessary answer when your children ask for those things.

After assisting hundreds of women over the past several years in fixing their budgets, securing good jobs and getting off government assistance, we have found several practical avenues to help families become self-sustaining. One of the biggest ways we have seen success is through meal planning. ChatGPT can come up with a weekly meal plan for a family of five for less than $50 in five seconds. Another solution is to trade in an unaffordable car for something cheaper and reliable. Trade school should also be on the table. For example, an HVAC certification can be obtained in six months to a year, and the average annual salary is nearly $60,000.

When COVID-19 hit, my husband and I had to be creative about income because all my speaking engagements were canceled, slashing our earnings. We decided to shop for Instacart and Shipt. People thought I was a hero for going into grocery stores and getting their food. The tips were great. When I left Planned Parenthood, my husband was a stay-at-home dad, and we had barely any savings. We sold one of our cars, cut cable service and moved into a smaller home. It was uncomfortable, but we were happy.

The lure of free money is strong. Some of our clients at Loveline intentionally reduce their income to qualify for government assistance. In my experience, when they went to pregnancy centers, they were encouraged to get all the government assistance they could. Although we know many people rely on this money, we encourage them to look at ways to increase income, lower expenses and take accountability for their own lives.

One of our best success stories was a pregnant mom who came out of a domestic violence situation with her son. She had no income, was on government assistance and was terrified she might have to go back to her husband because of limited funds. We worked with her to develop her resume and secure a well-paying job. She actively participated in counseling and financial coaching and was able to pay all her expenses and get off government assistance. Today, she is doing well on her own.

The crisis of government reliance and entitlement can be turned into an opportunity to become self-reliant and accountable, but it will require substantial sacrifice. All the good things in life are worth working hard for and pursuing.

• Abby Johnson is CEO and founder of And Then There Were None and ProLove Ministries.