Military families are struggling to put food on the table. I’ve seen it. Now it’s time to act
Twenty years ago, when I moved to Washington state as part of a military family stationed at Fort Lewis, juggling our month-to-month bills on a single enlisted salary was a constant struggle. My family, and many of our friends and neighbors, were just one missed paycheck or serious illness away from being unable to afford basics like food, clothes or gas.
Last month I joined a dedicated team of volunteers from a coalition of military and hunger relief organizations at Clover Park High School — practically across the street from JBLM — and I was deeply saddened to see nearly 600 families move through the line to access emergency hunger relief. Congress has an opportunity to close the resource gap for struggling military families before the end of the year, but they must act decisively to ensure all Washington service members can put food on the table moving forward.
There are many issues that contribute to the unresolved military family hunger issue, and they are difficult to disentangle. Low pay for enlisted members, spousal employment challenges associated with the transient nature of military life and the stigma of unmet needs in a culture of self-sufficiency are just a few of the obstacles that prevent some service members from being able to provide adequately for their loved ones. As the lines outside food pantries that serve military communities continue to grow amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that we need a structural solution to confront the challenges that face these families that share our cities, our neighborhoods and sacrifice so much for the rest of us. The dedication of nonprofit organizations that provide emergency food assistance is important, and desperately needed, but it pales in comparison to the systemic unmet needs that persist in military communities across our country.
Fortunately, our own Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland is taking this issue head on. Earlier this year she introduced the bipartisan Military Hunger Prevention Act (H.R. 2339) which would provide low-income service members a basic needs allowance to help compensate for the rising cost of living in regions like the Pacific Northwest.
I will build on Congresswoman Strickland’s efforts with my own work at the local level. I’m a proud member of the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs, a bi-partisan committee formed to explore veterans’ and military needs. Through this committee, I’ve been able to hear about issues and help craft recommendations for legislation that will benefit veterans and military families. By becoming more informed about the specific needs of military families, I will continue to champion legislation that will benefit all military families.
I will also continue to support local events that meet the needs of our military families. One such great cause is the Drive-Thru Food Distribution Event for JBLM Area Military Families, hosted by the Military Family Advisory Network on Dec. 11. This event will directly address the issue of food scarcity that impacts a heartbreakingly large number of our military families.
As with all important policy initiatives details matter, and the fate of the Military Family Basic Needs Allowance is currently tied up in federal budget negotiations in the other Washington. The House version of the program is broader in scope and impact — helping an estimated 3,000 families with an average $400 monthly stipend. Unfortunately, the Senate version is disappointingly meager in comparison, impacting only 500 families with an average $200 monthly stipend. Given the leadership of Washington’s delegation in support of the Basic Needs Allowance to-date, I fully expect our senators will do their part in the negotiation process to maximize financial support for our military families.
Regardless of what happens next in Washington, DC, servicemembers and their families deserve more focus here at home. When someone enlists in the armed forces, their whole family sacrifices to keep our communities and our country safe. At an absolute minimum, we should ensure they have the resources required to flourish wherever they live.
After witnessing the commitment shown by the volunteers at the Clover Park High School food distribution event last month — I know Washingtonians will show up to support military families in their communities. Now it’s time for our institutions of government to step up and do the same.
Senator T’wina Nobles represents Washington’s 28th Legislative District.