Family, friends, and fellow Indiana Residents,

My name is Sean Abraham and I currently work in the field of substance abuse and addictions recovery. I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know a lot of people in the field, be it my co-workers, individuals experiencing active addiction, individuals in early to late recovery, real people making real differences in their lives.

I recently made a short presentation for a group at a non-profit substance abuse recovery agency I intern at over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or what many may know as food stamps. The presentation included information about what the SNAP benefits can cover food-wise, the amount of aid an individual can receive based on their income, and eligibility requirements for those benefits.

The issue is that I was giving this presentation to room full of individuals in recovery, most of whom had been convicted of felony drug charges in the past, and the eligibility requirements state that an individual with a drug charge after 1996 is ineligible for assistance – meaning that this program, that nearly everyone in the room could utilize, was out of their grasps because of the situation they had been a part of in their past – even though they are in recovery for that situation and have already paid or are in the process of paying their dues.

Currently Senate Bill 9: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Drug Convictions passed through the Senate and has been sent to the House, specifically to the Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs. Senate Bill 9 aims to provide individuals, who are experiencing the disease of substance abuse and addiction, the same help we provide to others in their situation by urging Indiana legislators to opt out of the SNAP benefits disqualification of individuals with drug convictions.

When an individual lacks the financial ability to provide food for themselves, it is our duty, as a community and as human beings, to provide assistance to them in the form of food, regardless of their health conditions – even if that health condition is the disease of addiction.

This petition will be sent to the members of the Indiana House Committee on Family, Children, and Human affairs. Please sign and leave a comment with any life experience that you may have that may be helpful. The more signatures we can get, the better the outcome can be.

I also urge you all to copy and paste the letter template below into a word document and fill out the spaces that are specific to you (such as your personal story section and your name) and then print out your letter to sign it at the bottom and send it to the address and name provided.

Substance abuse and addiction is a disease and these individuals deserve the same help we offer others in need. Please do your part with us. Every voice counts, and only we can change this. With everyone on board, we can really make a difference.

Thank you.

 

ADDRESS YOUR LETTER TO:

Rep. David Frizzell

200 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

LETTER TEMPLATE:

Dear Rep. David Frizzell,

            As a concerned resident of Indiana, I ask and urge you to support Senate Bill 9: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Drug Convictions and move it to be successfully implemented into Indiana’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits eligibility requirements. Currently, individuals with a drug conviction after August 22nd, 1996, are ineligible for SNAP benefits. Senate Bill 9 aims to provide individuals, who are experiencing the disease of substance abuse and addiction, the same help we provide to others in their situation. When an individual lacks the financial ability to provide food for themselves, it is our duty, as a community and as human beings, to provide assistance in the form of food for them, regardless of their health conditions – even if that health condition is the disease of addiction.

(This section is your opportunity to provide insight into your personal experience with the issue of substance abuse and poverty. Whether it be your life, a friend’s life, or just someone you may know – please let Rep. Frizzell know how this bill ties into your life. The stronger and more heart-felt the experience, the better. If you do not have experience with this issue, or are uncomfortable sharing your experience, please write anything about what this bill being passed means to you, or how it is important (one paragraph). If you would rather not write anything in this space, please delete this section and send in this letter without this section).

            As you can see with letters coming in to you from individuals of different backgrounds, and with varying life experiences, regarding this bill, this is a matter that affects more than just the individuals disqualified for SNAP benefits due to experiencing the disease of addiction and substance abuse. My experience and story are just one of many that are tied to this issue. We urge you to use your position as Chair of the Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs to help make this bill a reality for Indiana residents, families, and communities.

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME (please provide any titles or certifications))

(YOUR SIGNATURE (delete this space and sign here after printing))