Monterey, CA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) Now Being Used By 15% Of The Country
by Richard Kuehn on 03/28/13
View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California
Despite the fact that there are numerous signs that the economy may be making a tepid rebound, I'm still worried that those at the bottom of the income spectrum are suffering much worse than those at the upper end and the middle class. This is particularly worrisome given that government-funded programs to help the poor continue to be cut. And there's more cuts to come, unfortunately, due to the sequestrations. A story in the Wall Street Journal today said that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, soared 70% since 2008 to a new record of 47.8 mil. people as of the end of December of 2012. Congressional budget analysts believe it will rise again this year due to high unemployment and an increasing poverty rate. There are currently 50 million people living under the Federal poverty level, which often underestimates the pain the poor are suffering through in states like California. The poverty level is fixed nationwide so it doesn't account for the true cost of living in states like California which are much higher than other areas of the nation. Our government spent nearly $75 billion on the SNAP program last year, and it's expected to spend even more this year. Let's hope our government can do something to spur employment levels so more families can come off of the SNAP program. It's a sad state of affairs in American when 15% are forced into accepting this type of public assistance, largely because they can't find a job. Sadly, the Republican party is pushing to cut the number of people eligible for SNAP. Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands To Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.
