Oh, SNAP! Some of Portland's Poorest Will Lose Their Food Stamps in 2016

Comments

Ever seen how many people are whipping out their Oregon Trail cards at the grocery store? The program is being abused. Period.

10-15 hrs of volunteer work a month would equate to minimum wages based on the monthly benefit. Don't tell me that anyone looking for work can't spare that much time a month for the benefit.

Disabled folks and parents with dependent children will continue to receive their benefits, so they'll be ok.

on December 2, 2015 at 2:28 PM

When I was a cashier at Safeway downtown, it was shocking. People who paid with cash were buying ramen and store-brand food, and people paying with Oregon Trail were buying frozen pizzas and ice cream and fancy cookies. I couldn't believe how much of the store sales were from Oregon Trail.

Reymont on December 2, 2015 at 2:51 PM

I was unemployed for a year, but never applied for food stamps. I used savings and didn't feel that I needed the program, however I also know that when I was unemployed I had tons of free time that I spent riding bikes and doing fun stuff that I wanted to do. It is totally reasonable to demand that people who aren't working and don't have any dependants to take care of do something to earn the benefits they are getting.

econoline on December 2, 2015 at 5:54 PM

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest single injection of federal dollars into the Oregon economy; as much as a billion dollars a year that goes to feed Oregonians and support Oregon farmers, retailers and their employees. The 25,000 residents in Multnomah county at risk of losing their benefits represent 5 million dollars a MONTH stripped out of the local economy. Setting aside the moral issue and the human cost of the indigent and poor going hungry this policy is going to ripple through the Multnomah County economy well beyond the targeted "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependent" affecting farmers, grocers and their employees

alainb1 on December 2, 2015 at 10:50 PM

I thought I'd chime in because of some comments here.

I'm dealing with a nasty work injury, and severe restrictions on what I can do. I've been turned away from dozens of places for volunteer work, and my job fired me for refusing to injure myself more.

I've been using the new free time to write. Close to self publishing my first story I feel is good enough for it. Definitely not being lazy.

Now I'm going to lose the benefits that barely feed me as is, and some people are applauding that.

Jamie Erin M on December 3, 2015 at 12:16 PM

all I'm saying with how high rent is jacked up I don't see how any one with or without kids could afford day to day living ...just saying minimum wage isn't worth anyone's times if rent is three times what they make in two weeks

Mariah Rose Dunham on December 3, 2015 at 12:29 PM

The commenters here shitting on food stamp recipients are retrograde assholes, and ignorant. You obviously aren't conversant with what adults without dependents are eligible for, they have not been able to get actual welfare for some time, only food assistance. It is very easy to earn too much to get food stamps/EBT and end up needing to go to the food bank to make ends meet. Or have to choose between food and a utility payment.

I am in a similar position to JEM - have been un or underemployed over many months due to the difficulty of getting work with my restrictions. This is not a fucking "lifestyle choice."

xauen on December 3, 2015 at 12:33 PM

While this article does mention that 20 hours of work training enables recipients to retain their SNAP benefits, it fails to mention that no 20 hr./wk. free public workforce training programs are in place, or the fact that not all forms of volunteer work apply. Some people who have the time and willingness to comply w/ these requirements may have trouble figuring out just how to do so. And it's not exactly easy for homeless people to secure the needed transportation.

Jennifer Pickner on December 3, 2015 at 12:35 PM

@Reymont Have you considered that homeless people purchase frozen dinners and other premade convenience foods because they don't have dishes, utensils, and kitchens with which to prepare meals? You can buy a frozen dinner and heat it up right there in the store as the seated areas of most groceries stores (that one included) have microwaves and toaster ovens for available for customer use.

Jennifer Pickner on December 3, 2015 at 12:43 PM

Let's run some numbers. To keep your benefits, you need to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Which is time you can't spend looking for other work; but more important than that is that at minimum wage, 20 hours a week would equal $740 a month. We're asking people to do that much work for $200 in food.

That's ridiculous. Heck, that's nearly slavery. Would anyone here do that much work for that little pay?

Tony Young on December 3, 2015 at 2:26 PM

so im going to interject my opinion i, young ok im 19 now almost 20 and i currently attend pcc i recently put myself in better shoes.
i grew up worse than most of you people i lived in Detroit where if you are homeless its very dangerous and ive seen people be denied help and die because they couldn't get a Job because society seriously forgot them. they maybe served time or just grew up in a trashy neighborhood where its so hard to find a job i was six years old when i was homeless first and without food stamps i would've been dead i had many situations where even food stamps was not enough for food and i had to hold a sign imagine a six year old with a sign asking for food ive been in hospitals and in and out of jail and when you grow up like this it is hard to adapt to the so called reality of normal people reality is when you are on the streets begging for scraps and your ribs are showing.I had to shoot people and hurt people for food so im just saying that taking away benefits impacts a lot we know people abuse the system but how can you possibly understand the idea of fighting for food when you need it .for the idiots that brag about benefits are ignorant and fucked up because you leave people who have nothing to suffer

Dallas Wayne Rindflesch on December 3, 2015 at 2:44 PM

#WarOnPoor

#ABAWD

I'm rather curious to know what qualifies for the 20hrs of volunteer work...I live primarily without money so that I can devote myself to activism and service FULL-TIME....yet I have a feeling that hauling/cooking/serving food for Food Not Bombs, protesting/outreach for Veganism, cycling advocacy, modeling radical simplicity, championing wholesome practices like yoga/meditation/Buddhism, fighting climate change etc etc etc... doesn't fit the bill in the eyes of the powers that be.

Tyler Whitney on December 3, 2015 at 2:58 PM

Look, I'm in no way supporting the end of this program. Those in need should receive the benefit. As Dallas said, it could be a life or death scenario in some situations.

If you can show the DHS that your income doesn't cover your bills, food included, you will receive the benefit. If you are an ABAWD, you should be able to get into a position to help sustain yourself with some sort of income. If the income isn't enough to support your basic needs, you will continue to receive the benefit.

If after 3 months, you haven't been able to find work, then volunteer 20 hrs/week and you will continue to receive benefits. If your situation is insolvent, the city provides shelter and meals for folks in that situation.

Individuals without disabilities, dependents, addiction issues, or mental health issues should be able to weather a storm.

CaptainUber on December 3, 2015 at 3:18 PM

Some people and their useless comments, some people will never know what it is like to struggle, because they was born with a silver spoon in there mouth are whatever reasons gave them these senseless opinions. Really people stop judging others, are worrying about it...if it doesn't affect u personally why even bother to put down others because of there misfortune. Go spend your cash on food if u like. But not everyone has that luxury, everyone is not out to use are abuse the system.

Charmaene Thompson on December 3, 2015 at 4:30 PM

Wow. Bloggers coming down on food stamp recipients but not a peep about corporate welfare?
How do the people looking down on their fellow human beings feel about the Waltons owning more capitol than 10 small nations, while their workers subsist on food stamps?
How do they feel about the salaries and benefits their representatives earn while getting failing grades on their corruption risk report cards? Reputable studies & federal accounting all report that EBT abuse is minimal. Meanwhile, banks, civic leaders & cops abuse our trust.
I'd say some anger needs to be re-directed. Seriously. Oregon got an F, including its judicial system. Even our Ethics Commissions got an F!!! Read and weep Oregon. We had a C- in 2012, but now we get an F. So who is wasting tax dollars? Not the poor!
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/11/09/…

Teresa Roberts on December 3, 2015 at 6:05 PM

Wow! Another way to oppress the oppressed..
I'm sick of middle/upper class oppressing our oppressed people...
Offer some solutions that will help, not hinder..
Do a street retreat, go live on the streets for a couple of weeks to truly see what our homeless endure on a daily basis...
Meet the homeless, listen to them. So many have life struggles you cannot even imagine. You may not have been able to survive what they have endured
After you've been in their shoes for awhile, then, you can truly offer some effective solutions!!

SarahJean on December 3, 2015 at 6:29 PM

Man, i'm glad Trillions are being spent in taxes on weapons and creating terrorists to "destroy" each year, as the Military Budget inflates onward. I guess we can sleep like babies at night knowing that our taxes are building bombs and dropping them on small nations of innocent people. Would much rather have it spent on killing than feeding someone.

Ah, and most of the corporations in the US have negative tax returns where they don't pay taxes and, on top of that, get a tax return and subsidiaries throughout the year. They send the jobs overseas due to the fact that they can pay people pennies on the dollar per day instead of +30k a year. That's smart thinking!

Ain't life grand...

Dr. Organikk on December 3, 2015 at 7:15 PM

Charmane, I do know what it's like to struggle. I've had under $100 to my name on a few occasions in my life. But I didn't have kids or a disability. I'm fortunate and I do realize that. My struggles were mostly self-inflicted, but they were struggles nevertheless. The people that have the odds stacked against them need and deserve help. Those that take advantage of the system need to be removed from the dole.

Dr., If I could trade half the military budget for domestic programs I would. Spending increases of any kind would be unnecessary at that point. But point the finger at those responsible for that mess. To a large extent, the average taxpayer has zero leverage on how tax dollars are spent. And I don't wanna hear about how your vote matters. 40 years in this country have proven that money will be spent how Washington sees fit. Votes don't change that.

Asking more of the rich is easy. They'll never compromise. The other 95% of us have to raise our game if we ever wanna compete with the elite. Do any of us really think they're gonna hand over the wealth to the likes of us?

on December 3, 2015 at 8:55 PM

Do you know how infuriating it was when my child refused to get a job until she was 21 years old and didn't feel the need to because she at least could get food stamps? She would just hand over her card to whoever she chose to live with and never HAD to do anything. Now she is working and supporting herself and HAPPY. She recognizes now that she never tried to do better for herself because she didn't HAVE to.

If you are an able bodied single person with no dependants you don't need help. End of story.

I notice many people calling foul have mentioned they have documented injuries, or have profile pictures that include their children. This does not include you.

So, let's stop the cycle of enabling. Food stamps should be a last resort for this group of people. And 3 months is a good amount of time to get ones head out of ones behind.

Hey, with all due respect: The world does not OWE you. And at the end of the day nobody cares about your problems. The sooner a person figures this out, the better they will prepare for life.

Fabulous A on December 4, 2015 at 8:11 AM

It can take 3 years for social security to recognize your disability. So for those 3 years you are considered an adult without a disability what are you supposed to do, starve? If you can do 20 hours of volunteer work you can work for pay, but generally you can not do either without putting your health at risk. I do not apply for disability until my doctor put her foot down the week I left work in an ambulance twice. I was a distraction at work, and put others at risk being there.

Sarah Moon on December 4, 2015 at 10:02 AM

The article doesn't mention one facet of it; the self employed rule.

The rules state that you have to be working 30hours a week or earning at least $935.25 a month to even be getting FS now OR fall in to one of their other categories; like the slave labor volunteer thing.

The self employed rule is this: You can be making only the $935.25 a month if you're self employed and have no business expenses. However, that monthly amount goes up to a REQUIRED $1,8750.50 a month if you have ANY business expenses.

It doesn't matter how much those expenses are so, people like me that have maybe $300 a YEAR get screwed big time.

This is because the Federal Government is insanely short sighted when it comes to how the real world works. It would be insanely easy to do some kind of tiered system that computers would do all the math for and would keep people like me and pretty much all house cleaners, graphic designers etc etc etc etc etc from losing FS.

Stupid stupid stupid federal government.

Mike Brown on December 4, 2015 at 12:58 PM

Food/commodities are getting expensive and we still haven't hit our inflation target.

on December 4, 2015 at 3:50 PM

Fuck yeah I see those people buying candy bars and sodas and some stores charge as food for other items so fuck yeah!!!!

eloco on December 4, 2015 at 5:28 PM

Why?

eloco on December 4, 2015 at 5:31 PM

eloco on December 4, 2015 at 5:32 PM

@lazaar Food and energy costs are no longer calculated as part of the Consumer Price Index. Funny that. The price of yachts and skyscrapers isn't changing much, so inflation remains low.

Trainwreck on December 4, 2015 at 9:51 PM

I work graveyard at a 24 hour grocery store. I have only seen a very fee people come in and pay with SNAP who buy actual food for them and their families. Healthy food for the month... but the majority of people that I seen use SNAP are drugged up people from ages 18 and 50 . Gacked on drugs, buying candy, chips , donuts any kind of unhealthy junk food , and then pull money from their cash benifits as well just so they can play the lottery. .. the system Is abused and people need to realize it's met to help the working poor have nutrition and feed their familes. NOT to have so you can do drugs , be homeless and have people's hard earned tax money pay for them to not function in life. I'M Glad that they are doing this. Because it will force people to get off the butts and get a job like the rest of the world. ... free hand outs is just to easy to get these days.

ladybug94 on December 5, 2015 at 4:42 AM

No children. Able bodied. Go to work. If you choose not to because you want to be a hippy, or write a book, or just not work but can, then you don't deserve food stamps. Period. Government is not your parents. Your fellow citizens owe you nothing. Stop being impractical, lazy and esoteric, because you are gonna be hungry. Unless you leave and keep leeching in a county or state that still rewards deviance. Really stellar life goals. Your bad choices, earn you nothing. I never had a silver spoon, I grew up low income, went to school, got a job, on my own. No parents. Made choices so life would be comfortable and I could be independent of a broken system. I am tired of lazy leeches and excuses. If you get help, because you need it, then I am glad you are getting it. If you need help, and might lose it because leeches exploit the system, be mad at the leeches. Don't be mad at a system that only has so much. Yes. Wars should end. Corporate welfare should end. But if they did, there are still leeches.

MsLibertyBelle on December 5, 2015 at 6:24 AM

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined cost the American tax payer around 5 TRILLION dollars.

The federal government spends around 15 billion annually on food stamp programs.

That means republican spending could have paid for the current food assistance program over 300 times, with money left over... and **THIS** is the program you're saying is being abused?

Athena Brown on December 5, 2015 at 9:28 AM

Let me guess that the same people who are complaining about this program going away are are also fighting for a higher minimum wage. This would just make these people less employable. You can't have both. Get off your butt and take a low paying job. Don't try to push yourself out of the work market and then push yourself out benefit eligibility. Get off your butt and take a low paying job. If you can't do that then get on dissability. You have had months or years to figure this out. It is not my responsibility to figure this out for you or pay for you to live comfortably because you can't figure it out.

brettj on December 5, 2015 at 2:58 PM

The horrible thing about this is that if you work 80 hours a week in volunteer time to earn your SNAP benefits, you I'll be earning about whopping $2.30 an hour. For people who say we need to "earn" our benefits, shouldn't we at least get minimum wage for it?

I wonder if working for oneself will count for someone like me. I'm self employed, which is complicated enough because I have to reapply every 3 months to show the changes in my wildly shifting income. But because I'm a creative business owner, I work a LOT of unpaid hours just to maintain my business, to hone my skills, create work for showing in galleries and improving my portfolio. While the trajectory of my business has been good and I don't expect to need food stamps in 6 months, if not sooner, I need them now and sometimes It's a full time job. There are times when I get paid maybe $300 a month depending on whether I have a client or not. There are times of year when my business just goes dry for a couple months and I have nothing. The problem is, how do I prove that I use my time to run my business? There's just no way to prove it. Income is easy to prove, I have receipts and they can always ask my clients. But time spent is a whole other issue. I mean I am not opposed to doing some form of volunteer work to make up for it if I have time as I could probably do 10 hours a week and make up for the missing hours. But I'm loath to do it if it's not aiding my business and I essentially earn $2.30 an hour in benefits.

Orangey on December 5, 2015 at 3:06 PM

To orangey, working to maintain your business and hone your skills is called working. Stop the pity party! Sounds like you business may not be doing great so figure out a way to make it better. Don't look at it as working unpaid hours, this is business development time.

brettj on December 5, 2015 at 4:03 PM

I have worked in grocery for over 25 years and it is bull how many people miss use there food stamps. I work really had and i have to have a tight buget in order to eat all month long. I think what they should do is limit what people can buy on food stamps like they do
WIC then it would not cost the goverment so much money to feed people that need help. I have never as an adult had to use food stamps but i know my mom did when we were kids and she did miss use the food stamps she feed us the best she could and also worked full time. Not having a father that did pay child support is the only reason why. I know they went after him every time she had to apply for any type of support when we were kids. He also worked full time and made way better money then my mother did.. I really have a hard time feeling sorry for those who cant do much for them selves. I work 2 jobs so that i can afford the things that i need.

Graham Thompson on December 5, 2015 at 6:05 PM

I love how everyone here is clicking "like" on the comments talking about how individuals have suffered in their lives and have needed assistance to get by. As if these jackasses think clicking on "like" makes them a better person or more compassionate.

I don't think I've read a single comment here that shits on anyone who is actually in need of help. Most people criticizing the food stamp program here are directing their comments towards those who don't really need the help, but are taking advantage of the system. It seem like a lot of folks commenting about the lack of compassion really don't understand the rules of the program.

There was someone talking about volunteering 80hrs/wk for Christ's sake. That 4x's the amount required to receive these benefits if you're an ABAWD. It's the ignorance and entitlement that people are taking exception to here.

And if your self-employed, and making $300/month in some cases, let me do the math for you...

40hrs/wk x's 52 weeks = 2080hrs/yr.

2080hrs/yr divided by 12 months = 173.33hrs/month.

$300/month divided by 173.33hrs = $1.73/hr.

That's not sustainable. Working at 7-11 or Plaid Pantry is a more economical use of your time while building your business on the side. You either build your business and volunteer for the benefits, or work for $10/hr and build your business in your down time. That simple.

For those truly in need, the benefits are there. And once again, I would gut the military spending in favor of boosting economic aid programs here at home in a heartbeat. But, if the gov't won't do it, I'm not gonna sit here and complain about it when that does ABSOLUTELY nothing to change the circumstances people face in the realm I like to call reality.

on December 5, 2015 at 11:41 PM

Even though over half my monthly income goes towards rent I still don't qualify for SNAP. And after rent, bills, student loan payments and monthly TriMet pass I have about $100 left over for food every month. It sucks but that's the cost of living in this town, I guess.

Dimitri on December 6, 2015 at 12:29 PM

Oh, SNAP! Some of Portland's Poorest Will Lose Their Food Stamps in 2016

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