The Foreclosure Climate has Removed Social Stigma From Food Stamps

December 3rd, 2009

The foreclosure climate has removed social stigma from those availing of and surviving on food stamps. A record number of Americans – 36 millions or 12% of the population are now relying on the food stamps. Each month the number is soaring. This federal scheme was once scorned by southwestern village residents and in other places but today it is helping one out of every 8 citizen to survive. One out of every 4 children is dependent on it.

The dependency on food stamps has grown so swiftly in places poles apart that it has become as common as collecting daily groceries. Over 36 million persons use these simple plastic cards for basics like milk, bread as well as cheese. These are swiped at various counters in the cities plagued by foreclosures and also in the suburbs pockmarked with the blight.

The majority of those availing of food stamps are those whose incomes hover near the poverty line but their miscellaneous ranks point to the wide range of people struggling to survive. They comprise of single mothers and even married couples, persons who have recently lost jobs as also the chronically poor – the latter being recipients of these food stamps for a long time. Then there are workers whose working hours have been reduced or those with slim wages.

During the recession these numbers have swelled. At the time of the Bush rule the stigma was removed and these stamps were dubbed ‘nutritional aid’ and not welfare dole outs. Application was also made easier. In the 90s there had been efforts by few conservatives to stop the programme but both parties fortunately put an end to these measures. Congress however made huge cuts and red tape chased away many of the poor and needy.

The food stamp programme is expanding from Florida to Alaskan villages. The speed of increase is nearly 20,000 persons each day. In USA there are 239 counties. About a quarter are now receiving food stamps according The New York Times. The counties vary in size from big ones like Bronx and Philadelphia to Owsley counties. In Owsley half its residents of 4,600 rely on food stamps to survive.

Food stamps are indispensable when poverty is stinging and harsh but recently the growth has been sudden and fast in places that were once prosperous but blasted by the foreclosure crisis. In 50 small sized counties and about a dozen big ones the enrolment for food stamps have increased by nearly two thirds minimum. Some of the places with spiking enrolment are Riverside County (California), majority of greater Phoenix and Las Vegas. Also included are suburbs of affluent Atlanta and a swath stretching from Bradenton to touch the Everglades.