Last week, Congress enacted the most extreme cuts to social services, Medicaid, and food aid to U.S. citizens ever seen. Experts believe that millions of Americans could face food insecurity as a result of changes to hunger assistance programs. Similarly, millions more people could lose health care coverage or have their coverage severely limited as a result of cuts to Medicaid. For many low-income families, people with disabilities, and the elderly, this may result in having to choose between essential medications and food.
 

Three years ago, the Equal Justice Initiative started an anti-poverty initiative to provide assistance to the poor and people coming out of jails and prisons who have little or no support.  Our health clinic has provided free healthcare to hundreds of people, some with chronic, previously undiagnosed diseases. We provide medications to the uninsured, along with eye exams, glasses, and now  mental health care to those in need—all at no cost to patients.
 

We have also undertaken a major new project to confront food insecurity in America. Through an innovative program where we provide direct, monthly support to families that are experiencing hunger, we have witnessed how many families can recover from circumstances that have created food insecurity and improve their lives as a result of our program. We have expanded our anti-hunger work to address the problem of “food deserts” in many communities, especially in rural areas, by creating a mobile grocery store that goes into communities to provide heavily discounted food items for people in need.
 

EJI Senior Writer and Senior Attorney Jennifer Rae Taylor has written about our anti-hunger efforts, which will only become more essential in light of last week’s budget cuts. Please read the article and thank you for your support of EJI’s work.