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Why Assisters Belong in Advocacy
Assisters sit at the intersection of direct service and systemic change. We are the ones hearing firsthand the struggles of families trying to put food on the table. We saw the frustration of seniors navigating complex SNAP applications. We recognize the barriers—whether it’s confusing paperwork, language access issues, or outdated eligibility rules that do not reflect today’s economic realities. And because we see these challenges up close, we are uniquely positioned to advocate for change.
Reflecting on Human-Centered Design in SNAP
Over the past decade, there has been a notable shift towards human-centered design in public benefits programs. Technology barriers are being re-evaluated by organizations like Nava, Civilla, and Code for America, to name a few. Thanks to these and other partners, advocates have a blueprint and field guide to apply human-centered design to digital benefits nationwide.
However, this looks at only one aspect of benefits enrollment - the digital experience. Our current view of human-centered design often focuses on technology and web design, but human-centered design should be applied everywhere, because everything is designed. City planning is a great example of this....