United States | SNAP, crackle, pop

Theft from America’s anti-poverty programmes seems troublingly easy

State and federal governments are struggling to prevent it

2GGY5MW Sterling, USA - March 20, 2021: Closeup of deep fried chicken on retail display in container at Food Lion grocery store supermarket with EBT eligible
Image: Alamy
|WASHINGTON, DC

Dee and her husband thought they had left the tough times behind them. Having spent the previous six months living in a homeless shelter in Baltimore with their small child, they were finally living in an apartment on their own. With some government-supported cash and food assistance, they would be able to make ends meet. That was until their cash was stolen by fraudsters earlier this month. Now Dee wonders if they made a mistake leaving the shelter so soon.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “SNAP, crackle, pop”

From the March 18th 2023 edition

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