Food stamps act as safety net for 2,790 local families

By Carrie A. Mizell

Job loss prompted by a poor economy is said to be the leading factor in why there are now 751 more families on food stamps in Gilchrist County this year than there were in January 2009.
According to Becky O’Brien, press information officer for Circuit 8 of the Florida Department of Children and Families, there are 2,790 families in Gilchrist County who are now on food stamps.
“That is a pretty significant jump from this time last year when there were 2,039 families on food stamps in Gilchrist County,” O’Brien said. “But really Levy County has had an even bigger jump than Gilchrist.”
A recent report by the New York Times indicates that food stamp usage is at a record high across the United States. In the state of Florida, the number of residents who say they have no income beyond food stamps has reportedly doubled in two years.
“Gilchrist County is above the state average for increases in food stamp usage,” O’Brien said. “But some areas of the state have really gone up dramatically. Especially areas with a lot of migrant laborers like Okeechobee.”
O’Brien also pointed out that families on food stamps have received a slight increase in benefits this year.
“Food stamps have the most generous eligibility,” O’Brien explained. “Other programs require people to jump through more hoops.”
Since the state’s welfare program was reformed 10 years ago, O’Brien said it is a lot harder for families to get cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
At press time there were 176 families in the county receiving $243 each month in cash assistance from the government. In January 2009 there were 102 families in Gilchrist County receiving cash assistance.
“Back in the 70s and 80s people could get on welfare and just stay on it,” O’Brien explained. “Now people can only get it for a certain amount of time and there are requirements like a person must have children and be looking for opportunities to improve their situation.”
O’Brien did say that people often go on and off the welfare program as they find jobs and lose jobs.
According to O’Brien, 17 percent of Gilchrist County residents receive Medicaid benefits.