Spring Break
Unemployment rates prompt increase in state aid programs
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
03/06/09 - With high unemployment rates, the state of Rhode Island is seeing an increase in the number of people applying for the nutrition assistance program.
Formerly known as the food stamp program, the nutrition assistance program distributes federal food aid to those struggling to make ends meet.
Due to the increase, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to hire nine additional workers for the program.
The hiring is also necessary because of a higher-than-usual increase in retirements in the past year due to changes in the retiree healthcare plan, Amy Kempe, Governor Carcieri's, press secretary said.
She said the nine new workers would be sufficient to handle the department's workload.
"The state does have a 10.3 [percent] unemployment rate, so when you see a higher unemployment rate you tend to see an increase in the number of applications for food stamp benefits and other assistance programs," Kempe said.
Kathleen Gorman, director of the Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island said that an upswing in the number of families and individuals applying for aid was likely, as the savings and unemployment benefits of the unemployed began to run out.
As director of the Feinstein Center, Gorman also directs the Food Stamp Outreach Project, a program funded through the state that trains service providers and seeks to spread awareness.
As such, Gorman said she has significant contact with the program.
"I probably know more about it than anyone in the state," Gorman said. "And that's not bragging, it's just because we deal with this everyday."
However, Gorman offered a different opinion as to whether the nine new workers would be sufficient.
"It's nowhere near enough, but it's a start," Gorman said.
The loss of employees and the increasing number of people seeking assistance have combined to overburden the program staff, Gorman said.
Formerly known as the food stamp program, the nutrition assistance program distributes federal food aid to those struggling to make ends meet.
Due to the increase, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to hire nine additional workers for the program.
The hiring is also necessary because of a higher-than-usual increase in retirements in the past year due to changes in the retiree healthcare plan, Amy Kempe, Governor Carcieri's, press secretary said.
She said the nine new workers would be sufficient to handle the department's workload.
"The state does have a 10.3 [percent] unemployment rate, so when you see a higher unemployment rate you tend to see an increase in the number of applications for food stamp benefits and other assistance programs," Kempe said.
Kathleen Gorman, director of the Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island said that an upswing in the number of families and individuals applying for aid was likely, as the savings and unemployment benefits of the unemployed began to run out.
As director of the Feinstein Center, Gorman also directs the Food Stamp Outreach Project, a program funded through the state that trains service providers and seeks to spread awareness.
As such, Gorman said she has significant contact with the program.
"I probably know more about it than anyone in the state," Gorman said. "And that's not bragging, it's just because we deal with this everyday."
However, Gorman offered a different opinion as to whether the nine new workers would be sufficient.
"It's nowhere near enough, but it's a start," Gorman said.
The loss of employees and the increasing number of people seeking assistance have combined to overburden the program staff, Gorman said.
