Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2020)
NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 Federal SNAP change could make waves in Umatilla County By JESSICA POLLARD STAFF WRITER Able-bodied adults with- out dependents who aren’t working in Umatilla County could face a restriction on government food assistance benefi ts in April. A new rule, which the U.S. Department of Agri- culture described as a “rule to promote work” in a press release earlier this month, targets able-bod- ied adults ages 18-49 with no dependents if they aren’t employed, training or volun- teering for at least 20 hours each week and are receiving assistance from the Supple- mental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s got Tori Colvard, a food and nutrition pro- gram manager at CAPECO, concerned. The program receives donations through the Ore- gon Food Bank and from local growers, and distrib- utes them to food pantries and meal sites across Uma- tilla, Morrow, Gilliam and Wheeler counties. “It most defi nitely would put pressure on our area,” she said. “Having benefi ts reduced or cut off, that’s going to mean more people coming to banks and sites. We cannot match the power of the Supplemental Nutri- tion Assistance Program.” Colvard noted that SNAP provides some benefi ts that a food bank can’t. “With SNAP you can go to the store,” she said. “Peo- ple have the ability to go and purchase what they can cook and eat. Folks who are homeless don’t have a way to cook beans and rice, and a lot of staples we provide.” In 2018, CAPECO’s point-in-time count logged more than 500 people fac- ing homelessness across Umatilla County, although it’s uncertain how many of them would be affected by the new rule. The average monthly allocation of SNAP bene- fi ts statewide is $191. But in Umatilla County, that number is closer to $110 a month. Between Janu- ary and June of this year, an average of more than 15,000 people receive SNAP bene- fi ts each month. DHS warns that this change could affect 19,000 Oregonians, but didn’t pro- vide specifi c data by county. Each year, the state of Oregon usually uses waivers for a majority of its 36 coun- ties to extend the amount of time that people in the single, able-bodied demo- graphic can utilize food assistance benefi ts. With- out a waiver, SNAP eligibil- ity is limited to three months every three years. Time limits in both Uma- tilla and Morrow counties were waived for this year, along with 21 other counties. But that’s about to change. According to the DHS, only six counties might receive such a waiver after the rule goes into effect HH fi le photo Oscar Garcia, a driver for the Fresh Alliance program, does inventory inside the CAPECO warehouse in Pendleton in 2017. A new rule, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture described as a “rule to promote work” in a press release earlier this month, targets able-bodied adults ages 18-49 with no dependents if they aren’t employed, training or volunteering for at least 20 hours each week and are receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. in April — Crook, Curry, Grant, Harney, Wallowa and Klamath counties. “However,” said Chris- tine Stone, a communica- tions offi cer for the Depart- ment of Human Services, in an email, “this is still pend- ing federal approval and until a waiver is approved, we can’t know for certain.” According to DHS, areas requesting federal waivers must have unemployment rates at least 20% higher than the national rate but not less than 6%. In a press release earlier this month, the agency stated that rural areas with limited transportation for getting to work or areas with lower rates of high school diploma owners are more likely to fall into such a category. “Transportation in our rural communities is such a huge barrier. People who are low income might not be able to get around and to work,” Colvard said. Umatilla County Com- mission Chair George Mur- dock said he applauded Kayak Public Transit for addressing the issue through- out a lot of the county. “I do not think the inabil- ity to get there is a major cause of people in the coun- ty’s inability to work,” Mur- dock said. For him, a change in SNAP eligibility is a com- plex issue. “I’ve never seen a time when our food banks have a surplus,” he said. “Any actions that put additional strain on our food banks could have a negative impact.” He also said he has the greatest empathy for the elderly and children when it comes to food insecu- rity, but that when it comes to able-bodied adults facing unemployment, “employers are begging for workers,” across the county. DHS stated the change could carry an economic impact on local Oregon businesses that might accept SNAP benefi ts. David Meade, who man- ages Harvest Foods in Uma- tilla, said it will be hard to tell how the new rule might affect business until it actu- ally goes into effect in April. “If there is a reduction in business, it would be sub- tle,” he said. “For us, it will be vague. We’d start to see it in our numbers in the reports we get monthly.” Erica Miller manages the Gotta Stop Mini Mart on Highway 395 in Hermiston. She said that during the fi rst few days of each month, cus- tomers ring up high amounts of electronic benefi ts. “As the month goes on, it kind of dwindles,” Miller said. “It seems like this rule will affect those who are unemployed, and it could affect us too.” play, reveal & win! over $7,700 in weekly cash prizes Drawings every 30 minutes Friday – Sunday, 5-8pm 9pm • Super Lucky s Card Game two grand prizedrawings! UP TO $12,000 CASH January 31, 9pm | February 29, 9pm SAVE 10% Earn 7X entries into the $77,000 SUPER LUCKY Cash giveaway ON YOUR 2020 GOLF MEMBERSHIP at Wildhorse Golf Course or Birch Creek Golf Course! When you purchase by March 1, 2020. Call 541.276.5588 for more information! ER Y I L P I T L MU THURSDA Swipe at to activate! EVERY Watch the BIG GAME on our BIG SCREENS! Sunday, February 2 • Rivers Event Center Doors Open 3pm • Kick-Off 3:30pm VIP SEATING NO HOST BAR LIGHT REFRESHMENTS RAFFLE PRIZES RED PARTY ZONE FREE, must be 21 + to attend. CASINO • HOTEL • GOLF • CINEPLEX • RV • MUSEUM • DINING • TRAVEL PLAZA 800.654.9453 • PENDLETON, OR • I-84, EXIT 216, wildhorseresort.com. Owned and operated by CTUIR Management reserves all rights to alter, suspend or withdraw promotions/offers at any time. ®
