Food Stamp Use Nears Record High

Mississippi leads the way, with 21% of residents on the rolls

(NEWSER) - A record 45.8 million people—that's a staggering 15% of Americans—sustained themselves via food stamps in August, reports the Wall Street Journal . That number was up 1.1% over July, notes Business Week , and 8.1% over the year prior. In terms of sheer numbers, Texas and California had the most residents on the rolls, with 4.12 million and 3.82 million, respectively; but percentage-wise, Mississippi led the way with more than 21% of its population. Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Tennessee all had 20% of their populations on food stamps. More»

One in 6 Americans now in federal anti-poverty programs

(NEWSER) - The recession has sent a record one in six Americans into federal anti-poverty programs, according to a new USA Today survey. More than 50 million are now enrolled in Medicaid, a number that has jumped 17% since the recession’s official start in December 2007. “Virtually every Medicaid director in the country would say that their current enrollment is the highest on record,” said one health pollster. And that doesn’t count the 16 million more who’ll enroll when the health care reform law takes effect in 2014. More»

(NEWSER) - More than 32 million people in the US are now receiving food stamps—a full tenth of the population, Reuters reports. The record enrollment in January marks the third time in 5 months the total has increased. Numbers rose in all but four states. Recipients got an average of $112.82, and the benefits go up 13% this month under the stimulus package. More»

Why the backlash over access to healthy food?

(NEWSER) - There's been quite the backlash against hipsters buying fancy organic fare with their food stamps, but one such hipster argues that “cheap food is the real extravagance.” Gerry Mak—a subject of the recent Salon article —points out that "a whole rabbit at Lexington Market is $10, feeds at least four people, and is healthier than factory-farmed chicken,” he writes on Salon . “Why is it such a travesty that food stamp recipients have access to quality, healthy food?” More»

Stimulus package makes more young people eligible for benefits

(NEWSER) - Food stamps are for the poor, no matter if you’re a single mother or a destitute hipster. Salon checks in on the growing number of young, unemployed, college-educated foodies who qualify for stamps and use them for organic delicacies along with staples. One UChicago grad says he “used to think that you could only get processed food and government cheese.” Not so. “You can get anything.” More»