More Whatcom County residents request food stamps

KIE RELYEA - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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More Whatcom County residents are on food stamps than the same time last year - a nearly 25 percent increase that is being attributed to the recent expansion in the eligibility requirements as well as the ailing economy.

"Here at the Opportunity Council, we have seen more people than ever coming in to get help with food stamp applications," said Shawn Collins, outreach and development coordinator for the nonprofit.

Whatcom County's increase was even higher year over year in December than the statewide jump. Figures released by the Washington Department of Social & Health Services showed that 15 percent more people got help through the state's food stamp program, which is known as Basic Food.

IF YOU NEED HELP
To apply for Basic Food, do one of the following:
-- Fill out an application online at www.food.wa.gov.
-- Call (877) 514-3663 to request an application.
-- Apply in person at the Department of Social and Health Services office, 4101 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
-- Contact Shawn Collins at the Opportunity Council at 734-5121, Ext. 233, or shawn_collins@oppco.org. He can assist with filling out the application and gathering the documents needed when applicants meet with a state worker for approval.
Applicants will be required to have an interview, but that can be done in person or over the phone.

Those numbers, which were the latest available, showed:

-- 670,316 state residents were on food stamps. Of that, 279,967 were children.

-- 18,750 Whatcom County residents were on food stamps; 7,583 were children.

Compare those numbers to December 2007 when:

-- 581,141 people were on food stamps statewide; 239,518 were children.

-- 15,012 Whatcom County residents were on food stamps; 6,195 were children.

It's difficult to say how much of the increase was due to the recession and how much to the expansion in eligibility that went into effect Oct. 1, according to Collins and Kathy Spears, spokeswoman for DSHS.

"It's a combination of both. There's no way of really breaking it out," Spears said.

In October, the household monthly income limit was raised to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $3,534 for a family of four.

In Whatcom County, Collins said he's hearing more from people seeking food stamps because their work hours have been cut back or they have been laid off.

The trend isn't likely to change soon, if January numbers from the Opportunity Council are an indication. Last month, 110 people signed up for food stamps - compared to the 40 to 50 people for the same time last year.

"It's a significant increase for sure," Collins said.