DTA’s Newmarket Square Office Receives Prestigious Service Award

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is proud to announce that its Newmarket Square Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) staff is one of eight national recipients of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hunger Champions’ Honorable Mentor awards. Award winners were selected for their exemplary service in conducting outreach activities and assisting eligible clients to obtain nutrition benefits.

USDA selected the Hunger Champions and Honorable Mentors from over 80 nominations by state and local offices and advocacy organizations serving communities across the country. The nomination review committee was comprised of representatives from Feeding America, American Public Human Services Association, National Eligibility Workers Association, World Hunger Year, Food Research and Action Center, and USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.

“We are proud that our colleagues at Newmarket Square were selected for this impressive award. They consistently demonstrate a tremendous commitment to their clients, community, and the mission of our Department,” said DTA Commissioner Julia Kehoe.

Massachusetts has improved participation in SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, by streamlining program requirements and expanding outreach across the Commonwealth, particularly within Boston. DTA now reaches more eligible low-income families, people with disabilities and elders than ever before. In the past year alone, statewide enrollment increased by more than 52,000 households, or nearly 100,000 people.

The Newmarket Square Transitional Assistance Office is one of the Department’s largest and busiest offices, with its 80 SNAP employees serving approximately 30,000 clients in the Boston area.In addition to their regular duties, staff members conduct community outreach with a focus on chronically homeless individuals and linguistic minorities. They also work at DTA satellite offices and SNAP outreach centers at the Quincy Community Action Program and Boston Medical Center. These efforts help the Department to reach households who do not traditionally access government benefits while fostering partnerships with local organizations.

About SNAP

Formerly known as Food Stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves nearly 550,000 individuals in Massachusetts by assisting low-income individuals and families with purchasing healthy food. The program is federally funded and serves as the first line of defense against hunger. Individuals, families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities who are having difficulty meeting their basic needs are encouraged to apply for SNAP benefits by visiting their local DTA office, calling 1-866-950-FOOD, or visiting www.mass.gov/dta.

About the Department of Transitional Assistance

DTA’s mission is to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes and improve their quality of life. Located within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department ensures that the emergency and transitional needs of the individuals and families of the Commonwealth are met through a combination of federal- and state-funded programs. Massachusetts has a comprehensive system of programs and supports to provide to individuals and families in need in order to achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.

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