Food Stamp Use is Second in Nation in my state....interesting...
By fruitcakeliz
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
United States
September 29, 2009 9:02pm CST
So, on the news this evening, their aired a segment informing us that Maine is ranked number TWO in the nation for the number of people using foodstamps.
here are a few stats to put this into perspective
In the nation, 8.6% of households recieve foodstamp benefits
In the state of Maine 13.8% of households recieve benefits
On the other hand, our neighbor state, New Hampshire, Only has a rate of 5.2% of homes recieving foodstamp benefits.
That means that in the state of Maine, ONE out of ever SEVEN households is recieving foodstamps. The state claims that the reason why our rate is so high, is because the state works hard to make sure that all Mainers are aware that the benefits are availiable, and they encourage people to apply for them. The state claims their goal in doing this is to make sure that no Mainer goes hungry, and we all have food on our tables. I can't really say i can fault this, as i don't think people should starve, and i am thankful that benefits aare availiable for those who need them, but it really makes me wonder about the economic state of my state.
One out of every seven households, that number still boggles my mind. Granted, i am not one of them, even years ago, when i was trying to re-build my life after a divorce and was only working part time, bringing in barely $150 per week and tryin to find a place i could afford to live, and feed myself etc....i was told i made TOO much money for them to give me any assistance...
Anyone interested in the state that is a the top of the list of states where people receive foodstamp benefits? It is Louissiana, with 16.2% of households receiving assistance. (Just as a personal guess, i would say that the devestation cause there by hurricane Katrina a few years back helped jump them to the top of the list)
Links to more inromation about this topic
http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wgme_vid_734.shtml
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=286221&ac=PHnws
So what do you think about this? What is the percentage of people recieving foodstamp benefits in your state? Please share any and all thoughts on this matter...
3 people like this
9 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
1 Oct 09
Here in South Carolina we rank 32 with 18.7 % from June of 08 to Jume of 09. In searching for the statistic I came across a couple of interesting articles about food stamps and other assistance. It is a hodgepodge of a mess. Here in South Carolina if you have $2000 severance pay in the bank you can get food stamps but across the line in North Carolina you can't. The food stamp only covers 1 in 10 Americans. Among the low income families that get food stamps, health insurance and child care 1/3 get help in one program, 1/3 get no help and only 5% get all three. this is all messed up and the government should run a health program?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10safetynet.html
Here is an article that shows a study about people on food stamps and a correlation of weight gain. they had a body mass of 1.15 higher than those not on food stamps.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/aug/12/are-food-stamps-making-us-fat/
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
3 Oct 09
I don't think that people know how to really shop and cook these days. I think that before getting food stamps they should be taught to do doth, then restrict the junk foods. I know some people thing that may be too harsh but it is our tax dollars they are getting.
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Yes, it is strange to me as well that even though foodstamps are part of a national program, the criteria to obtain them can vary from stat to state. One might think that it would be more regulated nation wide?
Wow, the body mass mass stat you through out there half surprises me, yet half doesnt. I work in a grocery store, and i see the monthly rush when foodstamp benefits become avaliable at the stores, and i see the kind of foods they buy. Most of it is not, shall we say, of the healthiest options. Now personally, if as many of these people are getting the benefits are un-employed or under-employed as we are led to beleive, i would think that they would have the time to prepare healthier options for theit families (which can be just as cheap if not cheaper, as all the prepared foods that are full of salt and sugar and unhealthy things) instad of eating all kinds of "convienience foods" and unhealthy things such as soda and chips and whatnot...
1 person likes this
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
30 Sep 09
There are many states that are much bigger than Maine, yet we are still number two on the list!
i totally forgot to include the numerical stats on just how MUCH money in foodstamps is being used in the state of maine in my discussion (granted, if you look at/read the articles, you would see this)
Last month alone, over 27.8 MILLION dollars in foodstamps were used in maine. Maines population is only 1.3 million people. Those numbers just really jumped out at me when i read about this.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I am not sure what the percentage of people in Indiana, using the food stamp program is. I am sure it is up there as bad as the economy is right now. I know there sure are alot of unemployed people here.
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
3 Oct 09
unfortunately there is a lot of unemployed people EVERY where right now, so i fear we are only going to see these numbers go up i am afraid
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
30 Sep 09
hey gorgious:)
SO lets see. the latest stats I could dig up were from june, and according to whet I am seeing, 83,778 were participating in the Food Stamp program in New Hampshire. All told, in 2008, it cost a total of $71,404,026 with a monthly benefit average of $93.58.
Things are hard up here, especialy in the northern part of the state.
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
30 Sep 09
granted,i am not up to date on what the total population of NH comparitivly to maine, but accoring to those facts, if you break it down by how much is spent per month, that is only a quarter of what is being used in maine.
I didn't get an average benefit per "user" per-se, but per "hosehold" our average came to about $160 per month.....
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I found a report that says 1 in 10 Ohioans get foodstamps. There are 1.1 million getting that sort of assistance and there are roughly another half million that could get the benefit but, choose not to. It also said that the amount of Ohioans getting foodstamps has double since 2001. Pretty interesting...
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010434182
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Yes, unfortunate the bad economy and high unemployment rates are affecting everyone nationwide. I suppose we should be thankful that these programs are in existance to help, but at the same time, seeing the actual numbers kinda makes you wonder how long this assitance will be able to remain availiable for so many.
@wlee9696 (595)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I think it's great that the people in Maine don't want their fellow Mainers going hungry. I would won't to know why so many people needed assistance. Does the number correlate with unemployment? It seems like such a high number would warrant some serious investigation. I would want to know a root cause, and if it's a fairly new problem or a long standing one.
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
3 Oct 09
High un-employment, the fact that we have a very high cost of living compared to the average income of mainers...both of these are hige factors.
I know it is great thatwe make the availiability of these programs known to all, yet at the same time, it is almost a hinderance. It almost seems that some people see that these programs are availiable and see it as a reason or an excuse not to find work, because it is easier just to get the assistance. Granted, i know not everyone recieving benefits thinks this, but i know a good percentage of people look at it this way (as i have heard it straight from some peoples mouths!)
@princess07031980 (5412)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I love learning the statistics in this country, no matter what they entail. I currently live in California and was quite shocked you didn't mention our state. I told my fiance that, and he nodded his saying, "Sure, California has money." Yes, I suppose we do but we are chock full of large metropolitan areas that countain some horrible slums too. I would say California has to have one of the highest states for welfare housing and other places to accomodate the poor.
Good research! Let us know if you find any other good stats to share!
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
30 Sep 09
It is kind of crazy when you start delving into all the numbers.
The thing about foodstamps is that it is a FEDERAL program, not funded by the state, so that means that the high population of people receiving these benefits here in maine, technically affects you all the way over there in california as well!
With this discussion, i wasn't even TOUCHING on any of the other benefits that are recived by the population of my state, such as rental assistance, healthcare, etc..
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I am not sure what the percentage of people using food stamps in my state is. I am sure that it is probably higher in my county, than in that of the state. That is because we are one of the highest counties in the United States for unemployment.
President Barack O'bama has been here to speak twice in the few months that he has been president. Unfortunately, no one is interested in what he has to say. They even only allowed people who had tickets to come listen to him. So, no one really knows what he said. Most people don't even listen to him on the news anymore because he is on there so often.
It is amazing that you were turned down for assistance when you were only making $150 per week. I know my brother has been turned down before as well, and he has 4 children. At the time, they said it was because he owned a vehicle that he still owed money on. That seems illogical to me. You would think they would realize that if he owed money on a vehicle, that gave him another payment and he needed more income coming into the household.
Sometimes I wonder how they come up with their rules and red tape.
Good luck to you in the future, and thank you for sharing these statistics with us!
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
30 Sep 09
Yes, i thought it was a little crazy at the time as well...as that only worked out to about $600 per month, and i was trying to find an apartment (which would then cost me rent and untilities) and that would eat up almost all of my income, leaving me nothing with which to eat on! My biggest downfall at that time was that i was 21 years old. If i had been under 21, OR if i had had a child or two, all the help in the world would have been there to assist me.
Luckily i had some wonderful friends who allowed me to move in and become a roomate in their apartment, and worked with me on what i could afford to ontribute to the house until the hours got better where i worked. I have since become a full time emplyee, and worked my way up to management, so i am doing ok now. But it was a very difficult time then!! Particularly as i have/had no family to fall back on for help!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Sep 09
fruitcakeliz I have no idea what the statistics for Ca are but it probably is high as the unemployment rate is over 10 percent here and many many people are out of work so there is no shame if one is out of work and has to get food stamps, contrary to a lot of people's beliefs. the economy here is terrible job are scarce and rents are way too high,cost of living here is gone toohigh. my own son has been out of work for 11 months.
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
30 Sep 09
i know and understand that unemployment levels are high, and many people are with out jobs and are needing assistance, and there is no shame in that, but i do think that my state goes a little above an beyond. They actually seem to make it SO easy to go on foodstamps here, that people woudl rather just get foodstamps and other benefits, as opposed to looking for work and taking care of themselves again.
