A Record One in Ten Americans On Food Stamps

Published November 30, 2008 @ 08:34PM PT

For the first time ever, the number of Americans receiving government food assistance will exceed 30 million Americans - that's a staggering 10 percent of the country's population and the highest number of food stamp recipients in our nation's history.

While hunger is certainly an issue in and of itself, it is indicative of an even greater problem facing America: poverty. Millions of people are barely making ends meet, struggling to stay one or two paychecks ahead of homelessness. This point is illustrated by the Washington Post:

To qualify for the food stamp program, whose name was officially changed last month to the Simplified Nutrition Assistance Program, recipients must have an income below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, or less than $27,564 for a family of four. The benefits, which average $109.93 a month per person, are based on a plan set by the government to represent a low-cost but nutritionally adequate diet.

These new figures come to light just as Congress is reconvening to discuss a second economic stimulus package. Richard Bloom points out on LA's Homeless Blog that the timing of these numbers will likely make hunger the talk of the next round of economic relief allocations:

Congress may put the spotlight on hunger, but they're not likely, without leadership from the top, to throw a flood-lamp on new thinking to end poverty. If I know Congress, its members will fight among themselves until they come up with a way to up the benefits to the poor: more money for food stamps, a little more housing assistance. Like the Thanksgiving turkey from the local food bank, however, they may not address the root causes of homelessness and poverty-lack of affordable housing, living wage jobs, and insufficient government subsidies.

One in ten people require government assistance to put food on the table. These numbers prove it's time to put away the band-aid solutions and start developing a real plan to bring an end to poverty in America.

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Comments (6)

I submitted this under economy, but it also can dramaticly effect hunger and homelessness as well, so I had to post this here. Please take careful consideration:

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Posted by Christopher Dapo on 12/01/2008 @ 05:48AM PT
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I know some people who are on some type of welfare that do not want to get out there and get a job. I have a baby and I am only 17 and we do not live on welfare. (if you consider WIC welfare then I guess we do) I am a single parent working and working and still going to school and welfare has never crossed my mind

Posted by krystal white on 12/01/2008 @ 01:08PM PT
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When I was homeless, I received food stamps. I was so glad to get them. They did feed us twice a day at the shelter, but you would never get full off of what they feed you. Plus you have to leave the shelter after breakfast. There were places that feed you lunch but how are going to job hunt or work when you are concerned about getting some where just to get a meal, not to mention the time it takes away from job search. I was lucky enough to write a story about an organization that provides lunch for the homeless.
http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2008/12/02/news/community_news/comm01.txt

Krystal,

That's great that you are a responsible single parent. I hope you never have to deal with welfare but since 1996 (welfare to work reform) it has not been a free ride.

Posted by Ly Syin Lobster on 12/02/2008 @ 08:20AM PT
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Go Vegetarian, or at least cut down on meat consumption. It takes 10 to 16 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of beef. This is a gross misuse of resource in a World racked by starvation, poverty and Homelessness. Also, the meat industry produces more greenhouse emissions than all the cars on Earth combined. Thank You for reading.

Posted by Gary Haun on 12/05/2008 @ 02:55PM PT
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Gary,

That's a good idea but first let's be considered about if every man, woman and child in the United States of America can afford to eat and then we will worry about what people are eating. Most homeless people have to eat what they are served. Now maybe that's an idea veggie food kitchen for the homeless.

Posted by Ly Syin Lobster on 12/06/2008 @ 04:43AM PT
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Gary,

That's a good idea but first let's be considered about if every man, woman and child in the United States of America can afford to eat and then we will worry about what people are eating. Most homeless people have to eat what they are served. Now maybe that's an idea veggie food kitchen for the homeless.

Posted by Ly Syin Lobster on 12/06/2008 @ 04:43AM PT
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Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.