DCF: Record-Breaking Food Stamp Applications Could Break the System
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February 20, 2009
Citing the highest volume of applications for Florida’s food stamp program in history, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and non-profit leaders are joining forces to ask lawmakers for increased funding, using funds from the new federal economic recovery package. Florida added 400,000 people last year to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which manages food stamps. That growth rate led the nation. The agency handled over 3 million calls for assistance in October alone, a 40-percent increase over the year before.
Program Director Jennifer Lange says many are first time callers concerned about feeding their children.
"These are people who have never come to us before, who were working, who were self-sufficient, but who lost their jobs. They never thought they would need this kind of help before, and now they need it and now they qualify for it."
DCF has extended call center hours, improved technology, and partnered with community groups to reach people in need, says Lange. But, she admits the agency still can’t keep up with the volume.
"Volume is our number-one problem at this point. We’re the best in the country on accuracy, but we can’t keep going under the volume we’re struggling with."
Debra Susie, executive director of Florida Impact, says some money earmarked in the economic stimulus plan for food stamps will come to Florida, and each of those dollars will generate nearly double that for the local economy. She says non-profit groups have pitched in to help process applications, but state funding is still critical.
"We want to be sure and provide this additional funding request that DCF is making, so that we have enough staffing to meet the need and the growth that we’ve seen."
DCF officials have asked the legislature to help address the growing demand by funding nearly 300 new positions at the agency, but legislators are reluctant, given the current budget crisis.
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