Number of food stamp recipients surges in Cuyahoga County Ohio

[Algorem]

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/02/number_of_food_stamp_recipient.html#preview

Posted by Robert L. Smith February 14, 2008 21:00PM
Categories: Breaking News

The number of people using food stamps rose sharply in Cuyahoga County in recent years, especially in the suburbs, which experts see as evidence of more hunger and weaker jobs.

The number of county residents in the federal food stamp program surged 40 percent between 2002 and 2007, according to a study by the Center for Community Solutions, released Thursday.

The study found that about 14% of Cuyahoga County's 1.4 million people received federal food stamps last year, probably an historic high.

"That's very likely the highest percentage ever enrolled in the program," said Joseph Gauntner, the county director of Employment and Family Services...

[monktonman]

1. Socialist's!........ n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. It's the booming economy

"The primary driver is the economy," he said. "The former steel worker who now cleans offices, or works at McDonald's, suddenly needs help."

[zbdent]

3. but ... but ... but ...

there was a sign at the local McDonald's ... "Now hiring"! That's enough for a Repuke to say that there's all kinds of jobs out there!

(Of course, jobs that they wouldn't want their kids taking, let alone ones which pay enough to pay for health care and feeding a family ...)

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Possible connection with this ... ?

1. Detroit, MI
2. Stockton, CA
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Riverside--San Bernardino, CA
5. Sacramento, CA
6. Cleveland, OH
7. Bakersfield, CA
8. Miami, FL
9. Denver-Aurora, CO
10. Fort Lauderdale, FL
Source: RealtyTrac

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7242523.stm

[knitter4democracy]

5. I can't say I'm surprised.

How many need them but can't navigate the massive bureaucracy and paperwork, too? When we were in Cleveland and needed to get our baby girl on SCHIP, the kids' health insurance, it took two months and a million phone calls and faxes. It was practically my full-time job then, and I could take phone calls at home with her. I even asked my case worker what happened if someone couldn't take phone calls during the day at work, and she said they'd be out of luck. Really. Grrrrr!

How many are going hungry and need food stamps? We need to expand the program, not cut the budget, Mr. President. Grrrr!