Quantifying Our Impact
At mRelief, we know that SNAP participation rates are not 100%—we exist to close that gap because when 15% of people who qualify for SNAP can’t receive the benefit that means the system built for them is failing. We’ve explored the many reasons why there is a participation gap, but how do we quantify what it takes to close it?
There are an estimated 9 million families in the US who are eligible for but not receiving SNAP, according to 2016 data reported by Mathematica. mRelief’s goal is to connect 1 million of those families to SNAP and food assistance by the end of 2020.
Using data from the 425,000 people we’ve helped to access food assistance so far, we have calculated that it costs only $13 for mRelief to enroll one household in SNAP for 6 months, at an average monthly benefit amount of $190, which amounts to an ROI of 8,769%.
By serving 425,000 people already, we have unlocked more than $88 million in SNAP. Our goal to connect 1 million families to SNAP and food assistance would amount to more than $1 billion in benefits unlocked and an invaluable weight lifted off families who are able to access a basic human need: food.
