One in Six Oregonians Now Count on Food Stamps

The state's need for economic assistance continues to grow.

In Oregon, food stamps are issued through the Oregon Trail card. Photo: Oregon DHS

(SALEM, Ore.) - As Oregon’s unemployment figures hit historic levels, the need for basic economic support such as food stamps and cash assistance continues to grow, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today.

Need for cash assistance (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF) increased nearly 30 percent over May of 2008. Only very low-income families qualify for this assistance – the monthly income limit for a family of three is $528 – and currently 25,509 families statewide are receiving assistance.

Washington County saw the largest percentage jump with 50 percent more families needing assistance than last year at this time.

“We began to see the huge increases of people coming into our branches last year and those numbers continue to grow today,” says Xochitl Esparza, TANF program manager for the DHS Children, Adults and Families Division.

The need for food stamps also continues to grow. The most recent statewide figures for May show that 601,706 Oregonians – nearly one in six – receive food stamp benefits. Demand jumped 27 percent over May of 2008.

Clackamas led the counties in the largest increase at the local level, with a 36 percent jump over last year. “We are working hard to get people the services they need as fast as possible,” says Belit Stockfleth, Food Stamps program manager.

“Our innovative food stamp intake process means that people are getting same-day service so they can put food on the table tonight.”

Background on cash assistance and food stamps in Oregon: To qualify for TANF, families must have very few assets and little or no income. The current maximum monthly benefit for a family of three is $528.

To qualify for food stamps, families must earn less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, along with other qualifying factors. For a family of four, the income limit is less than $3,400 per month.

Benefits are determined on a sliding scale, based on household income, and are distributed through the "Oregon Trail Card" that is used like a debit card to purchase food. Food stamp benefits are intended only as a supplement to a family’s food budget, not to cover it entirely.

To learn if you might be eligible for food stamps, TANF, Oregon Health Plan or other services, visit your local DHS Food Stamps office. To download applications for TANF and food stamps, go to: oregon.gov/DHS/assistance/.

DHS also partners with SafeNet to help people to find local resources such as local food pantries or other assistance. The number is 800-SAFENET (800-723-3638).