Food Security

Everyone should have enough to eat.

Our Vision

Access to nourishing food is essential for people to grow, study, work and thrive in our communities.

Maine Equal Justice advocates for everyone in Maine to have enough nutritious food to eat.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Hunger is a symptom of poverty. We see SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as a first line of defense against hunger and work to protect and improve this critical support for Maine people with low income. Nearly 1 in 9 Maine residents receive food assistance through SNAP. It is one of the only systemic and proven-effective solutions for addressing hunger nationwide.

Food Security in Maine

A Closer Look at Who Benefits from SNAP: Maine (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Lifeline for Hungry Mainers (Maine Equal Justice and Preble Street)
SNAP & The 3-Month Limit: Lessons Learned from Maine (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

Farm Bill Advocacy and Ending Hunger by 2030

What We're Working On

Every five years Congress passes a new Farm Bill and 2023 is our next opportunity to weigh-in on changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at a national level. SNAP benefits are entirely federally funded, with the program’s administrative costs being shared equally by the state and federal governments.

The Farm Bill is a large package of federal legislation that impacts 12 different policy areas, including SNAP. During Farm Bill negotiations, our Members of Congress make the rules for how the SNAP program works and who qualifies for food assistance.

Our top priority in the next Farm Bill is to protect and improve the SNAP program for all people who rely on this essential source of food assistance.

Are you having a hard time getting enough food? Are you currently getting SNAP benefits or have you ever used SNAP? We want to hear from you.

Maine Equal Justice is a part of the Ending Hunger by 2030 Advisory Committee convened by the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. The Committee is tasked with implementing Maine’s Roadmap to End Hunger by 2030 which aims to address both immediate food needs and the root causes of hunger.

See:

"Less anxiety about making ends meet means more eye contact with my children when I get home from work. What more could I say?”

Andrea, Farmingdale

Looking for information about SNAP or other ways to access food?

See Food Assistance

Maine Equal Justice focuses its work on many of the issues that affect people’s daily lives – access to adequate health care, housing, transportation and childcare; food and income security; and higher education and training. Maine Equal Justice is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 04-3346273.
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126 Sewall Street, Augusta ME 04330 (Map) • Toll-free: 1-866-626-7059 • FAX: 207-621-8148