Nearly one in 10 Ohioans now receives food stamps

[MarkCruz]

Nearly one in 10 Ohioans now receives food stamps, the highest number in the state's history.

Caseloads have almost doubled just since 2001, with 1.1 million residents now collecting benefits, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Low wages, unemployment and the rising cost of groceries, gasoline and other necessities are to blame for financial hardships facing many Ohio families.

Caseloads have been rising steadily in the past seven years, said Brian Harter, spokesman for the state agency which oversees the food-stamp program.

"Look at unemployment during this time," he said.

Ohio's jobless rate is 5.3 percent, up from 4.4 percent in 2001.

"The economy and loss of manufacturing jobs are at the root of what's going on. But lately (it's) the rising cost of transportation and food -- people who were barely getting by, are not getting by," said Jack Frech, director of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services.

"It has pressed folks to the edge to have to rely on food stamps."

Advocates estimate another 500,000 Ohioans are eligible but not enrolled in the food-stamp program.

Individuals in households with incomes up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level and with assets no greater than $2,000 in most cases are eligible for food stamps. That's earnings of no more than $22,880 a year for a family of three.

Recipients receive $100 a month. The federal government pays for the benefits while the state covers administrative costs.

But as the price of milk, fruits and other groceries climb, advocates say, recipients can buy less and less with that $100.

"Food stamps provide only about $1 per person, per meal. Who in the world is buying groceries with that?" asked Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Bank.

On average, food stamps are now providing less than two weeks of groceries.

"There's the presumption that folks have the cash to make up the rest. Well, they don't," Frech said.

Not surprisingly, food pantries and soup kitchens across the state have been reporting record demands. Like the families they serve, they, too, cannot keep pace.

In central Ohio, demand at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in January was up 14 percent over the same period a year ago, with 120,000 requests for food.

The increased demand coupled with rising food costs and fewer donations have forced the food bank to reduce the five-day supply of food it had been giving out to a three-day supply.

"Milk is up 25 percent," said Mid-Ohio president Matt Habash. "Applesauce, a big staple at food banks, has gone from $9 to $15 a case."

In other areas of the state, pantries with their supplies depleted have been forced to temporarily close.

"The shortages," Hamler-Fugitt said, "are a double whammy for people who have been relying on food stamps and pantries."

[BANANAZ]

EYE SEE YOU TRAUMA, REAL AMERICAN, HOLLER AT ME THRU PAYPAL I'LL HELP YOUR BROKE HICK ASSES WITH GROCERIES

[when it rains it pours]

 
damn

[Doggystylin]

I don't think Trauma lives in Ohio. Well Ohio does have a large black population.

[MarkCruz]

Well Ohio does have a large black population.

Demographics of OHIO
2005 (total population)
86.27 % White    
12.66 % Black    
0.66 % AIAN     
1.68 % Asian    
0.07 % NHPI

AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native
NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

[Doggystylin]

Lots of white trash then I guess. When I was there I saw loads of black people though.

[M Dogg™]

Lots of white people are losing factory jobs that have helped states like Penn, Ohio and Indiana, and they are having a hard time adjusting. These are people that didn't have a job, that 20 years ago they went out, looked for work and found the local factory that gave them Union wages, health care and enough money to buy a house, car and raise kids in a community that was safe and had good schools. Now these jobs moved to Mexico and China, people are outta work and unless you have a college degree, your shit outta luck. Ohio's issues are not just black people, yeah black people traditionally are the ones that lost factory jobs, ruined Southside Chicago,  but now it's effecting white people too.

[Kill]

Lots of white trash then I guess. When I was there I saw loads of black people though.

12.66% is about national average, right?

[MarkCruz]

Lots of white trash then I guess. When I was there I saw loads of black people though.

12.66% is about national average, right?

NOT NATIONAL AVERAGE BUT IT'S THE NATIONAL PERCENTAGE OF BLACKS.

NOT TOO MANY IN CALI. THAT'S WHY DOGGYSTYLE WAS AFRAID IN OHIO.


USA
Race/Ethnicity (2005)

White    73.9%
African American    12.4%
Asian    4.4%
Native American and Alaskan Native    0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander    0.1%
Other/multiracial    8.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)    14.8%

[Doggystylin]

Lots of white trash then I guess. When I was there I saw loads of black people though.

12.66% is about national average, right?

NOT NATIONAL AVERAGE BUT IT'S THE NATIONAL PERCENTAGE OF BLACKS.

NOT TOO MANY IN CALI. THAT'S WHY DOGGYSTYLE WAS AFRAID IN OHIO.


USA
Race/Ethnicity (2005)

White    73.9%
African American    12.4%
Asian    4.4%
Native American and Alaskan Native    0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander    0.1%
Other/multiracial    8.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)    14.8%

what are you talking about you tool, i go to school in south central L.A.

[MarkCruz]

LOL I'M TOOL ?

Lots of white trash then I guess. When I was there I saw loads of black people though.

I KNOW YOU LIVE IN LA, RETARD. I WAS REFERRING TO YOUR POST^

OR IS IT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OF OHIO

[Doggystylin]

I guess you didn't understand that I was trying to imply that that the area I go to school in is covered with chocolate people so why would I be scared in Ohio.

[Bch]

thats a fuckin shame lazy ass bums

the houses out there you could get a house in the burbs for 60-70 k

my boy got a 2 story for 110,000$ and he moved from LA thats a damn shame though

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

the area I go to school in is covered with chocolate people so why would I be scared in Ohio.

cus youre a fag?
cus you lock your doors and get to the freeway as fast as possible when you leave school?

I been to USC, the neighborhood surrounding it aint that bad. Unless you cross the freeway...which you wouldnt 

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

I don't think Trauma lives in Ohio.

yeah, isnt he in North Carolina or some shit?