Local woman among the increasing number of those applying for food stamps
Monday, April 21, 2008
BUTLER COUNTY — Last year when Kathleen Harrison suffered medical problems and had her car stolen, she didn't think things would get any worse.
But it did.
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Harrison, a licensed practical nurse, was laid off in December after a nursing home she worked at in Wayne Twp. downsized.
After depleting her savings and losing her home, last week Harrison became homeless and joined an increasing number of Americans applying for food stamps.
"It was scary. But then quite humbling,'' said Harrison, 48, who is staying at the Serve City shelter.
Nationwide, the number of Americans receiving food stamps swelled from 21.2 million in 2003 to 26.4 million in 2007.
And in Ohio, more than 1 million people received food stamps last year, up from about 625,000 in 2001.
The increase is due in part to low wages, unemployment and increased gas and food costs, state and local authorities said.
"From November on I've seen quite a big increase (in applicants). More people are using the pantry, too. It's tough out there,'' said Gloria Bateman, a food stamp outreach coordinator for Shared Harvest Foodbank.
"The main problem is gasoline costs, food costs. They can't feed their families and they're having a hard time finding out where to go.''
In Butler County, the number of food stamp recipients jumped to about 28,000 in 2007, up from about 11,000 in 2001. For most, the assistance is short term.
Jerome Kearns, assistant director of Butler County Job and Family Services, said the rise in food stamps recipients is the largest he's seen in years.
"The numbers are just unprecedented for this county,'' Kearns said.
Kearns and Bateman said many of the recipients are working poor families who have never used federal assistance.
Bateman said faces of the men who approach her say it all.
"I don't want to say it's a look of defeat. But it's a look that says I've tried everything before coming to you. You're my last hope,'' Bateman said.
Harrison, who starts a new job next week, said the $160 a month in food stamps she'll get for two months will help her get back on her feet.
"The food stamps will put food in the fridge until I get my first check. For me this is emergency assistance. I never in a million years would have seen myself on food stamps or any type of public assistance.''
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.
