Street Roots • March 11-Ì7, 2016
Page 3
E d ito r ia l
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Counties rally to preserve food assistance for thousands
«ElaJI* *
poverty has a lot to do with money, of
'course. But it also has a lot to do with
politics, obstacles, endless hoop
jumping.
That’s the story of food stamps this
month.
Multnomah County is trying to reach the
thousands of residents.
W ¡IMF W
at risk of losing their
food stamp assistance .
before their options run
out on March 30. And
it’s all coming from 2,000 miles away at the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
I or SNAP.
For years, Multnomah and Washington
counties were exempt from some federal
food stamp time limits because the local,
averaged unemployment rate exceeded
federal criteria.
In December, the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistant Program notified local
governments that the region no longer
qualified under the previous exemptions.
That means the limit of three months
assistance in a 36-month period returns for
able-bodied adults without dependents.
As a result, the county estimates that
approximately 9,000 Multnomah County -
residents are at risk of losing their food
stamp assistance, prompting the county to
take action and try to reach people before
they lose their SNAP.
Because in reality, many, if not most of
these recipients are still qualified to receive
assistance. It’s a matter of reaching them,
letting them know of the requirements, and,
if they aren’t already, bringing them into
compliance.
That doesn’t sound like much, but it is a
.tremendous obstacle when you're talking
about someone experiencing homelessness,
a refugee learning a new language, or= a
someone with a mental health issue who
might have difficulty connecting with
services m the first place.
And the reality behind our lower
unemployment figures is th e rise in part-
time, low-paying jobs with few or no benefits.
Sure, people are working, but they are not
hetter off, and they certainly aren’t getting
ahead. This kind of reactionary policy turns a
blind eye to the rising costs - housing and
otherwise - burdening men and women who
have lived in the Portland metro area for
years.
Pulling their food benefits only knocks out
one leg just when the other finds stable
footing.
You want people to participate, to rise
above, not be shut o u t But shutting people
out is the consequence of socially
marginalizing people, putting them in silos
and sweeping them to the edge of town.
Nationwide, it is estimated that half a
million people will be dropped from the
program, which, averages $150 to $170 a
month.
“This faulty policy puts thousands of
people in our community at risk of hunger,”
said Liesl Wendt, director of Multnomah
County Department of County Human
Services. “The impact is real, and its
happening now. Fortunately, it’s not too late
to help. Talk with clients and people you
know who are at risk of hunger and help
them take action to keep their SNAP
benefits”
Throughout Multnomah County, the
network of social workers is diligently trying
to reach people anti preserve their food |
s u p p le m e n t. W e are fo rtu n a te in
to have such dedicated servants, but this
bureaucratic scramble is a sad waste of
energy, particularly when it’s all about
correcting even more wasted energy coming
from Washington D.C.
If you know of someone who might be
affected by these changes, please urge them
to contact the SNAP offices:'In Multnomah
County, call 971-673-2422 or 971-673-2333. In
Washington County, call 503-6934769.
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