NYT: Living on Nothing but Food Stamps

[deminks]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/us/03foodstamps.html?src=twt&twt=nytimes

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — After an improbable rise from the Bronx projects to a job selling Gulf Coast homes, Isabel Bermudez lost it all to an epic housing bust — the six-figure income, the house with the pool and the investment property.

Now, as she papers the county with résumés and girds herself for rejection, she is supporting two daughters on an income that inspires a double take: zero dollars in monthly cash and a few hundred dollars in food stamps.

With food-stamp use at a record high and surging by the day, Ms. Bermudez belongs to an overlooked subgroup that is growing especially fast: recipients with no cash income.

About six million Americans receiving food stamps report they have no other income, according to an analysis of state data collected by The New York Times. In declarations that states verify and the federal government audits, they described themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash aid — no welfare, no unemployment insurance, and no pensions, child support or disability pay.

Their numbers were rising before the recession as tougher welfare laws made it harder for poor people to get cash aid, but they have soared by about 50 percent over the past two years. About one in 50 Americans now lives in a household with a reported income that consists of nothing but a food-stamp card.

(end snip)

So, whose economy is improving? Just asking.

[stray cat]

1. you can get a 5 ft by 4 ft apt in Tokyo that you can't stand up in for $650 per month

things are tough all over

[Political Heretic]

3. And that means..... what exactly?

[Sebastian Doyle]

16. Same as what it always means

Some here take the right wing side of ANY argument. I don't know how the Hell they get away with it as long as they have. Even OMC wasn't that blatantly right wing in half of his crapfests.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

58. Yep. This one bats 1.000. -nt

[bobbolink]

4. Its called a "cell", right?

I'm sure that's how we homeless people will soon be stacked up.

Kinda like POWs in Vietnam.....

[ThomCat]

20. Geez, way to show some empathy.

:eyes:

[liberalmuse]

22. Nice show of compassion.

:mad:

May every single piece of shit who makes some glib comment regarding another's suffering find out first hand exactly what it's like.

[malaise]

59. +1 n/t

[TomClash]

44. Just remember

There but for the grace of God go you.

[Obamanaut]

70. Join the navy, live on an aircraft carrier, and have about the same

amount of living space plus several thousand neighbors and airplanes landing and taking off on your roof.

[bobbolink]

2. Now that she will soon be homeless, maybe she will see homelessness differently.

If this happens enough, MAYBE attitudes about homelessness may change.

Not likely, but maybe.

[Cetacea]

9. Due credit to Reagan for enhanced demonization of the poor/homeless.

And I doubt that increasing poverty will turn things around.

[bobbolink]

14. So, we just accept our fate and die quietly?

[Cetacea]

25. Absolutely not!

I was just giving some historical perspective. Locally I give whenever I have anything myself, and I keep up on current information regarding shelters, food pantries, etc.. Some of the people I talk to have very little in the way of information.

The police here are fairly cool in that they know a few places, one a defunct restaurant, where the homeless take shelter and they don't bother them. (small miracles, but encouraging just the same)

I was just giving some historical perspective. And I am not oblivious to the fact that a depressingly large number of democrats are not much better than their political counterparts these days regarding poverty.

[bobbolink]

64. Thank you for clarifying. Yes, I think we all know the blame starts with Raygun.

That doesn't feed and house people.

I appreciate more than you know, your understanding that Dems aren't doing that much for us..... as you can see, I get a lot of shit for that on DU. That doesn't, however, mean it isn't true... it means that there is a LOT of denial.

Thanks for the good info about the local cops... do you have any idea WHY they are a bit more "cool" than in other locations? Was there effort to informationalize them? :) Yes, that is a small miracle.

While I appreciate your awareness of food banks and shelters, the issue is NOT more charity.. it is JUSTICE.

That is what I keep trying to bring home.

I really don't want handouts and charity, and neither does any other poor or homeless person I know... we simply want to live as others do, and being accorded the respect as another human being.

Thank you for your interest!

[truedelphi]

66. One nation, under Canada, with Liberty and

Justice for all.

May we live to see the day when there is more concern about Justice, than whether or not some local church can have a cross on a plot of public land!

And thanks to Michael Moore for the "Canada" designation!!!

[Sal Minella]

26. Isn't it amazing that so many are "choosing to be homeless" as RR said . . .

You'd think word would be getting around that this is NOT a good choice. :sarcasm:

[bobbolink]

68. As Mitch Snyder said almost 30 years ago....

"Believing that people want to be homeless may make you sleep better at night, but bears no relationship to reality."
Mitch Snyder

A few years ago, there was a pictorial story in the local paper about a woman who was homeless....had been for 4 years, living in her car. One picture showed how she kept warm on cold winter days (and nights, I would assume): a baking pan lined with foil, and filled with votive candles.

When I showed this to a woman (a chaplain!!!), as an example of how depraved this country is to allow a person to have to live this way, she said, in all seriousness, "Do you know she doesn't like that?"

:wtf:

And, yes, this is a woman who considers herself to be "progressive", aware and compassionate.

Is it any wonder I have lost trust in "progressive", "aware" and "compassionate" people?

[Sal Minella]

71. That name made me think "DC" and "homeless" and "suicide" and

I Wikied him -- he was a hero of mine then and he remains a hero for me. It was a holy madness he suffered from.

Just put "Promises to Keep" on my Netflix-Get list. Thanks for the post.

[bobbolink]

76. Another good one from Martin Sheen.

I met Mitch.

He was genuine.

Did you find his book? Well worth the time....

I thought of him lately, because I had the flu, and my stomach wasn't ready for real food. When Mitch had been fasting, he ate split pea soup when he was getting back to food. That is also what I craved, and finally found some.

I hope you caught what I was saying about the insensitivity of the woman who prides herself on being ever-so-"progressive..... and her dismissing the woman who kept warm with candles. That is so telling!

[sandnsea]

5. When there's 4% unemployment - you think this doesn't exist?

Go check the records for 1998 & 1999. Weekly new claims for unemployment were around 350,000. We're around 450,000 now, right? The economy is improving, as disappointed as the so-called Democrats around here will be to see it.

[tonysam]

7. Take the blinders off. No, it isn't.

Few jobs are being created. New claims of unemployment going down only means employers aren't laying people off as much; it means absolutely NOTHING to the 15 MILLION who are out of work. There are FEW jobs being created.

THAT is what is important--JOB CREATION.

[bobbolink]

12. ONE MORE TIME... it isn't ALL jobs..... what would you have us do who can't work?

heave ourselves over a cliff?

Could progressives PLEASE look further than their own noses?

[tonysam]

15. For the vast majority, it IS.

Period. End of story.

Lots more people than you are hurting.

[bobbolink]

17. "End of story" All of us who don't fit in your pet category thank you for dismissing us

and consigning us to suffering and death.

How.... very "progressive" of you.

"STFU" is such a sweet and liberal way to treat your fellow Dems.

[Warpy]

19. Jobs are actually key for those of us who can't work

because it's people with jobs who pay the taxes that help us to survive, too.

[bobbolink]

21. Still believing that "trickle down" shit, eh?

if you look around a bit, you may find that those tax dollars AREN'T being sent our way.

That ended quite some time ago.... including with Clinton.

But, you can keep hoping that Raygun was right....

[uppityperson]

23. Having more jobs is a negative thing? What?

[Warpy]

37. They don't come from anywhere else, buster

[bobbolink]

60. Why the hostility?

[Tansy_Gold]

41. Warpy is absolutely correct

Jobs, real jobs, the kind of jobs that MAKE things (or jobs that support the jobs of making things) are the fundamental fundamental (sic) of any viable economy.

When people have jobs, they pay taxes. When people have jobs, they buy things and pay taxes. When people have jobs, they buy things and make jobs for other people who pay taxes.

At the root bottom of any and every healthy economy are jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

Social services, welfare, unemployment compensation, disability income, food stamps, ADFC, all of that --- ALL OF IT -- ultimately comes from the working people and their jobs and the taxes they pay. They don't have be employees of a corporation; they can be self employed even. But without them and their jobs, there's nothing else.

So even if you aren't able to work, even if circumstances require you to rely on the social safety net, you still need jobs if not for yourself then for the people who support the economy that supports you.

JOBS -- the be all and end all.




Tansy Gold

[Tansy_Gold]

45. Those tax dollars ARE being sent your way.

Where the fuck do you think food stamps come from? Or SSDI? Or AFDC?

Reagan and Clinton may have screwed things up to a greater or lesser extent, but those government benefits you're getting are still funded by TAXES, if not yours then someone else's.

Or would you rather not get any?


Sheesh.



Tansy Gold

[Political Heretic]

50. AFDC does not exist anymore. Did you not know this?

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was terminated and replaced with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) - when Bill Clinton signed Wellfare "reform" into law in 1996.

Now, I just posted about how I think Warpy was correct about jobs. But, I also want to point out that bobo has lots of reason to be angry and outraged - I can tell you, having both statistically studied the effects of TANF and having worked in social services and seen directly the effects of the termination of welfare, I can tell you that TANF is a huge colossal mess for the poor.

It keeps its books looking good primarily by denying services to poor people, with no resources for follow up for multi-service connections. Many states have systems worse than the national TANF - Idaho has TAFI which is abysmal in ways I don't have time to describe here.

As a liberal of any stripe, the basic summary of facts is this: "Welfare" does not exist anymore, it was terminated in 1996 when AFDC was replaced with a new system of temporary, employment mandated partial assistance with excessive limitations and restrictions.

[Tansy_Gold]

51. I meant TANF. i couldn't remember what the name had been changed to

And I was too pissed to look it up. My bad.

Regardless, and even regardless how perverse the system is/has become, the point remains that whatever benefits are out there, they're funded by taxes, and that means taxes paid by working people.

The more people who are working in a healthy economy, the more taxes they pay, and the more funds are available for benefits.

It's a disgusting truth that Reagan and Clinton and the booshies, etc., have not only screwed the poor -- working or non-working -- but they have skewed the "benefits" so that there is far more "welfare" to the non-working rich.



TG

[Political Heretic]

56. I understand your point. But it wasn't a name change. AFDC was eliminated.

TANF is something completely different.

I understand your bigger point, and even wrote in support of it further down. I just think this distinction is important.

[Political Heretic]

49. Warpy is correct - he's not talking about trickle down, and I can explain the difference:

Trickle-down economics is the idea that tax breaks and fluffy policy for business and the investor class spurs employment and job creation thus growing the economy for everyone.

It's a pile of crap.

However what's not a pile of crap, is the simple factual reality that other people with jobs paying taxes are the reason there is any sort of social safety net of any kind. They pay for medicaid, medicare, TANF, Food Stamps, Veterans Administration, Social Security Disability Insurance, and on and on.

We don't have enough of a social safety net in this country, and millions are falling through the cracks or getting left behind. And we need to keep addressing that.

But we - us poor people, homeless people, jobless people - need job creation as much as anyone else, because it funds services we need.

[bobbolink]

69. What's crap is assuming those taxes would go to help those of us who need it.

Which I'm sure you understand.

"We don't have enough of a social safety net in this country, and millions are falling through the cracks or getting left behind. And we need to keep addressing that."

And that's what I'm doing.

Yet, I get blasted for it.

Poverty gets ignored, yet when I keep bringing it to attention, people strike back.

Guess we are supposed to just STFU.

Oh wait... we need to keep addressing it.

Talk about a no-win.

[tonysam]

30. +1,000

We are all in this together.

[JANdad]

62. Your constant combative attitude is not helping either...

Yes we all know by now that you are unemployable...
Yes we all know by now that you think that ALL Liberals/Dems/Progressives want you to die, jump off a cliff, crawl back under a rock or whatever other cute things you write...
Yes we all know by now that you want FREE housing for ALL homeless people...
Yes we all know by now that you want FREE cash to ALL homeless people...
Yes we all know by now that yur want FREE healthcare for all homeless people...
Yes we all know by now that not ALL homeless people are mentally ill...
Yes we all know by now that not ALL homeless people are addicts of one sort or another...
Yes we all know by now that yout feel that counseling is of no use to the homeless...

To sum it up...You have made your point and made it quite well by bashing the choir...

But please by all means keep biting the hands that would feed you...

[bobbolink]

63. People respond to being ignored and being dissed by fighting back.

Your post very welll illustrated the lack of compassion by a great number of "progressives". Thank you for demonstrating it so well.... many have noticed, and gotten the point by reading your harsh words.

Oh, and your hands, and those of DU, HAVEN'T BEEN FEEDING ME.

There have been, over time, a few caring individuals, including some who have renewed my "star" from time to time.

BUT, there have been just as many, and often MORE, who are nasty and dismissive and non-caring, because poverty isn't on the approved list of "progressives".

All civil rights movements are told they are "combative". 'Twas ever thus.....

edited to add.... Since you don't like my "attitude", how about YOU getting busy and doing the hard work of bringing this issue to light, and do it in YOUR preferred way?

Win/win...

[JANdad]

72. I tried...

"Since you don't like my "attitude", how about YOU getting busy and doing the hard work of bringing this issue to light, and do it in YOUR preferred way?"

I tried, but they did not like my candidate of choice because he had pretty hair...they liked Hope and Change instead...

[Hello_Kitty]

54. If people have work they have more money to help those who can't work

Our tax system taxes wages far more than wealth. When wages go down, there is less tax revenue to fund social programs. Also, when people who can't work can't find work benefits that should be going to people in your situation are spread thin because they have to go to them as well.

[bobbolink]

65. So, we just wait and hope, and put our own needs aside?

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[uppityperson]

24. heh, your "two fold nature" has been shown to be a masquerading troll

[Donnachaidh]

13. no it's NOT improving, not in my area

If anything it's getting worse.

And many of those figures you and others cite do NOT take into account people who have used up their benefits, and are now part of the disappeared.

Blow all the smoke you want. Closing your eyes and covering your ears and singing lalalalalalalalalal does NOT make this Depression go away.

[sandnsea]

28. Oh fuck, those are NEW claims

People who haven't used up the benefits because they haven't even started them yet. There are always new claims, no matter how great the economy is. And if I had a nickel for every time someone posted on DU that the unemployment numbers have NOTHING to do with whether someone is drawing an unemployment check or not - well hell I'd be tanning on an island somewhere.

There are places in this country that have never had a decent economy. There are places that almost never suffer from a recession. And all kinds of places in between. Despite where YOU live, the overall economy IS improving. It takes a real sick and desperate desire for failure to not see that.

[laughingliberal]

31. Oh, good! Our work here is done. Thank God. I was getting tired of worrying about the economy. nt

[sandnsea]

34. You're working on implementing the stimulus? n/t

[laughingliberal]

36. No, I've been writing to the White House and legilators supporting them in passing a job's creation

program. Seems all is hunky dory, now, though. They must think I'm dumb, still worrying about jobs and stuff.

[sandnsea]

38. The stimulus was a jobs creation program

And it is working. The next step is supposed to be the energy bill, but unfortunately this country is too fucking stupid to understand how legislation will create jobs unless it says JOBS on it. So in that regard, politically, yes the Administration continues to talk to the stupid about JOBS.

[laughingliberal]

39. Really? I wonder why President Obama held that jobs' forum a few weeks ago.

I could have sworn I heard him say some things about some jobs' creation methods he was thinking of implementing. Hmmm. We should let him know right away. He might spend some money the banksters could use.

[Political Heretic]

48. Center in Budget and Policy Priorities Data:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7380604

The Stimulus Bill was too small, and laden down with unnecessary and counter-productive spending on things like tax cuts and certain giveaways to districts, but its overall effect - while not big enough - has been positive.

There was lots of spending in the stimulus bill that was just pure good for low-income and working class Americans, as well as middle-class American families hitting the skids.

I did an entire 36 page policy analysis paper on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and I've got plenty more details and source data if you want it.

[Donnachaidh]

33. wow, the republican talking points have really sunk in

"sick and desperate desire for failure" -- because I disagree with YOU? The sick and desperate ones are the Suzy Sunshine's and their ruby slippers - looking for that rainbow through the haze.

How was your hospital stay Rush? Do something about that anal cyst? :sarcasm:

[sandnsea]

35. What? Unemployment figures aren't based on who gets a check?

Like I said, sick and desperate desire for failure, willing to say any damn thing to get there. :crazy:

And about that Rush thing - fuck you.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

52. I wonder what you will be saying a year from now.

think about that.

We ain't seen nothing yet. I see what's comin down the pike at us, do you not?

[surrealAmerican]

53. People like the one in the OP are not part of that ...

... "unemployment" statistic. When a self-employed or contracted worker has no income, they can't file a claim for unemployment insurance, they're just out of options.

[tonysam]

6. I hated the remark of the Republican in the article

He was just a total asshole. If he wants to get people "off the dole," then the s.o.b. should propose job creation programs.

[deminks]

8. I got mad at that part, too. Typical rethug response, though. nt

[laughingliberal]

32. Oh, but he did! Tax cuts! Yeah, that'll work. nt

[notadmblnd]

10. The wealthy's

My income has gone from 100k - 47k - 24k since 1001. Within the next year, if I don't find employment it will become 7k. Why is it that only the people that have to sacrifice are the little people? My husband's dead due to shitty health care, my job is gone, my home will be gone by spring.

How much more am I expected to sacrifice?

[laughingliberal]

40. Not that it helps but we're right here with you

My husband's not dead but has a couple of chronic problems likely to kill him without help and we have no insurance. We've gone from a combined income of around $100,000 in 2006 to about $15,000 in '09. Will likely lose our house in the spring, too. It's infuriating to read statements like the Republican in that article that press the old Reagan propaganda about assistance discouraging work. And, always the same failed solution. Give the wealthy tax cuts so they'll create jobs for us. Here's hoping some better times show up, soon.

[notadmblnd]

42. I know, there's so many people worse off than I am.

I have a good family that will provide help and support just as I was able to for them once upon a time.

[Warpy]

18. That's a tough lesson a lot of people are having to learn

While income can come and go, those creditors are going to have their hands in your pockets all the time.

She's probably regretting that lifestyle of the rich and famous and wishing she'd paid off a small house instead of going deeply into debt for a mansion while investing the bulk of that 6 figure salary. Most new money dies broke and this is the reason. They think the boom will last forever and they are entitled to it.

Those of us with Depression baby parents never had the luxury of that thinking.

[NashVegas]

27. It's Hard to Feel More Sympathy For Her Than Anyone Else

It sucks to be in the position she is in. That said, her own choices had a lot to do with it.

The idea she may have likely had some hand to play in the real estate debacle does come into play re: karma.

[pipi_k]

43. Not to mention people who just make some really shitty decisions

Like my son's MIL, who allowed her drug addict son to live with her in an apartment building she owned...he robbed her blind, tried to rob my son and his wife (his sister), and ended up causing her to lose her home.

She then moved to the West coast with her other son, lived with them for a while, and then came back, got an apartment, and allowed the junkie son to move in with her again, only by this time the son has a junkie girlfriend and they have a baby that got taken away, and then a second child who was removed by DSS.

So last July, the son gets high, totals his mom's car, and cries poverty, she gives him a bunch of money, and decides she's going to move to Poland with some cousins and live there. Sold literally everything. Stayed there a few months and then had to leave because she neglected to fill out the papers for being able to stay there.

So she comes back and was only supposed to stay with my son and DIL for a day or two. She's been there at least two months. No job. No car. No money.


This lady is 60 years old. Not a young snot who doesn't know any better.

So yes, I agree...sometimes people are in a shitty situation because they've made shitty decisions, and I really don't have as much sympathy for them as I would for someone who, for example, is in a situation due to the actions of someone else...or unavoidable illness or injury.

[NashVegas]

46. Oh Goodness

Good luck with all that. I hope her daughter has learned better life skills.

[Political Heretic]

47. I actually have lots of sympathy for people who've made really shitty decisions.

It's a novel idea, but I'm going to try having sympathy even for people who screw up or know better :shrug:

[Hannah Bell]

75. +1

[blueamy66]

55. Okay. What about ....

parents of 4 kids that are now pregnant with kid # 5....using WIC checks at the supermarket?

Sounds like a few poor decisions to me.

Hey, I pay my taxes and have chosen to not have kids...don't think I can afford it right now...or ever.

??? Is having children a right in the US?

[tonysam]

61. Those kids are future taxpayers who will support YOU

in your old age with Social Security taxes and the like.

"Childfree" people tend to forget that.

[undeterred]

29. At the end of February my unemployment will run out.

Then I'll be eligible for food stamps, not for unemployment. I've been looking for a job for 7 months with no luck. Lots of people in this sinking boat.

[Greyhound]

57. .

[w8liftinglady]

67. if someone lives in the Dallas area,and finds themselves in this condition-

you are invited to my apartment for dinner anytime.Nothing fancy,but you will have a filling,healthy meal and some company.

[Delphinus]

73. That is a

very kind offer! Thanks for saying this.

[JCMach1]

74. People are waking to the fact that Workfare was total Bullshit!

There is no safety net...