La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § III-1917

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-1917 - Homeless Meal Provider

A. A homeless meal provider is a public or private nonprofit establishment, (e.g., soup kitchen, temporary shelter) approved by the department, that feeds homeless SNAP households. To be eligible to accept SNAP benefits, a meal provider must also be authorized by Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) after the department approves it.

B. The provider must serve meals that include food purchased by the establishment. A meal provider serving only meals which consist wholly of donated foods is not eligible for authorization.

C. Only those SNAP households determined to be homeless shall be permitted to use SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals served by authorized homeless meal providers. To ensure that the use of SNAP benefits for prepared meals is restricted to homeless persons, homeless meal providers shall establish that person's right to use SNAP benefits to purchase meals.

D. Applicant meal providers must apply for approval at the departmental office in their parish. An approval review at the provider's establishment will be conducted by the regional agency representative. After approval has been granted by the department, the provider must then make application to an FNS field office to receive authorization to accept SNAP benefits.

E. Homeless meal providers may accept SNAP benefits as authorized retail redemption points after authorization from the department and FNS. The provider will receive settlement from the Federal Treasury as an electronic deposit directly to the provider's account at a financial institution. Homeless meal providers that redeem SNAP benefits in excess of $100 per month will be provided equipment that will allow acceptance, redemption and settlement of program funds electronically. Others may participate by using manual vouchers.

F. The use of SNAP benefits to purchase meals from homeless meal providers is voluntary on the part of SNAP recipients. SNAP recipients must continue to be given the option of using cash if payment for a meal is required. In addition, if others have the option of eating free or making a monetary donation, homeless SNAP recipients must be given the same option (eat free, or donate money or SNAP benefits). The amount requested from homeless SNAP recipients using SNAP benefits to purchase meals may not exceed the average cost to the homeless meal provider of the food contained in a meal served to the patrons of the meal provider. If a homeless recipient voluntarily pays more than the average cost of food contained in a meal served, such payment may be accepted by the meal provider.

G. Homeless meal providers will not be permitted to serve as "authorized representative" for homeless SNAP households.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § III-1917

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Family Security, LR 13:437 (August 1987), amended by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, LR 24:1782 (September 1998), LR 29:606 (April 2003), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency Section, LR 36:2526 (November 2010).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with F.R. 52:7554 et seq., 7 CFR 273.2, P.L. 110-246.