Laurie Thomas doesn’t like asking for handouts.
But Thomas, a recent graduate of the Virginia School of Technology, has had trouble finding employment as a certified medical assistant. She has epilepsy and said employers have been unwilling to hire her. Her boyfriend has a good job as a plumber’s assistant, but his salary alone isn’t enough, she said. Unemployed and with a family to feed, Thomas decided last week to apply for food stamps.
“I didn’t have a choice,” she said. “Right now, I’m just trying to figure out what bills need to be paid first and how I’m going to pay them.”
Thomas is among an increasing number of Virginians who are turning to food stamps to get by. Statewide, nearly 486,000 people received food stamp benefits last year, a 41 percent increase since 2001.
The picture was similar nationally, with nearly 24 million Americans on food stamps in 2004 – almost one-third more than four years ago. In South Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach saw the most dramatic increase. Last year, 16,781 residents received food stamps – a 45 percent jump from 2001.
“We’re hoping that this trend is about to end,” said Earl Ford, an official with the city’s Human Services Department.
Part of the spike can be attributed to welfare reform in the 1990s, which attached time limits to government assistance. Since then, officials have made a more diligent effort to enroll people who qualify for food stamps.
Still, much of the increase was fueled by rising poverty rates, compounded by an abundance of low-wage jobs with few or no benefits. Often, low- to middle-class workers are finding second or third jobs to help pay for rent and food.
More of Susan White’s story here.