TPiH 077 Haley Kottler of Kansas Appleseed

This week’s episode of That Podcast in Hutch features Haley Kottler, the anti-hunger campaign director for Kansas Appleseed. Haley has worked extensively on food and hunger policy in Kansas, and she shares some of her insights and experiences working to defend programs like SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP provides vulnerable families with an average of around $171 per month in food assistance, which is less than $2 per meal, per person. In our conversation, Haley pushes back against some of the prevailing myths that exist around safety net programs like SNAP, and explains how ensuring access to food has broader economic benefits to our communities, state, and country. Additionally, Haley shares some of SNAP’s history - including its ties to Kansas and its fierce defense by the late Kansas Senator Bob Dole. During the past 10 years, and continuing today, programs such as SNAP have come under heavy assault. Opponents have claimed SNAP is flooded with fraud and abuse, and have called for restrictions and in some cases elimination. Haley walks through her experiences and insight in working to help people understand the truth and the importance of programs like SNAP. I think you’ll not only enjoy this episode, I expect you’ll learn a great deal, too. I know I did! To learn more about the history of SNAP read Kansas Appleseed’s report.  https://www.kansasappleseed.org/snap-report/