Rising costs said hardest on poor
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Rising costs said hardest on poor
By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
3/26/2008
By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
3/26/2008
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Low-income Oklahomans are harmed more by the nation's declining dollar as food stamps are stretched to cover increasing food prices, the state Human Services Commission was told Tuesday.
"I'm concerned about the fact that low-income families are not going to be able to buy as many loaves of bread and gallons of milk, given what's going on right now," DHS Director Howard Hendrick told commissioners at their regular meeting.
At the same time that families are struggling with rising prices for food, fuel and utilities, DHS also is grappling with anticipated cuts in federal funding, coupled with a tight state budget.
"Low-income families paying $4 for a gallon of milk and $2 or $3 for a loaf of bread means those food stamp benefits aren't going as far," Hendrick said.
More than one of every three Oklahoma kids received food stamps for at least one month last year, Hendrick said.
"I'm very concerned about the quality of food low-income families can afford to buy, given the devaluation," he said. "It's going to continue to be a problem."
More than 417,600 Oklahomans received food
"I'm concerned about the fact that low-income families are not going to be able to buy as many loaves of bread and gallons of milk, given what's going on right now," DHS Director Howard Hendrick told commissioners at their regular meeting.
At the same time that families are struggling with rising prices for food, fuel and utilities, DHS also is grappling with anticipated cuts in federal funding, coupled with a tight state budget.
"Low-income families paying $4 for a gallon of milk and $2 or $3 for a loaf of bread means those food stamp benefits aren't going as far," Hendrick said.
More than one of every three Oklahoma kids received food stamps for at least one month last year, Hendrick said.
"I'm very concerned about the quality of food low-income families can afford to buy, given the devaluation," he said. "It's going to continue to be a problem."
More than 417,600 Oklahomans received food
stamps in February. That's up slightly, nearly 0.3 percent, from the same month last year.
However, it's up 21 percent -- meaning 72,150 Oklahomans -- compared with six years ago.
Hendrick noted that money circulates faster among low-income Oklahomans.
"Human services is a good investment for state government if you want to keep the state's economy going, because they're going to keep circulating the money at quicker rates," he said.
Also, Hendrick told commissioners that the agency is bracing for increased demand for services along with decreased funds, including a $24 million loss in federal funds going into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
If DHS receives the same state appropriation of $557 million in fiscal year 2009 as it did in 2008, the agency would face 5.2 percent cuts across the board in several programs, plus an additional loss in federal revenue.
An $11 million cut in state appropriations, or 2 percent, would leave the agency with 7.75 percent across-the-board program cuts.
Hendrick said the figures could change, but "that's the reality of what we're looking at today."
However, it's up 21 percent -- meaning 72,150 Oklahomans -- compared with six years ago.
Hendrick noted that money circulates faster among low-income Oklahomans.
"Human services is a good investment for state government if you want to keep the state's economy going, because they're going to keep circulating the money at quicker rates," he said.
Also, Hendrick told commissioners that the agency is bracing for increased demand for services along with decreased funds, including a $24 million loss in federal funds going into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
If DHS receives the same state appropriation of $557 million in fiscal year 2009 as it did in 2008, the agency would face 5.2 percent cuts across the board in several programs, plus an additional loss in federal revenue.
An $11 million cut in state appropriations, or 2 percent, would leave the agency with 7.75 percent across-the-board program cuts.
Hendrick said the figures could change, but "that's the reality of what we're looking at today."
source from: http://www.tulsaworld.com/
26 Mar 2008 20:58
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