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Milwaukee (November 5, 2009) — The majority of Milwaukeeans trying to secure food assistance are being forced to wait up to 100 days to get emergency food benefits.

Recent information released by the state shows that more than 126,000 people in Milwaukee County applied for FoodShare since the state took over the program in May 2009. Nearly 17,000 of these people were determined to be “expedited” cases, which means they live in crisis and have a federal right to receive benefits within 7 days. For more than 11,500 of these people living without food, it took up to 3 ½ months for their applications to get approved.

Ironically, in an effort to control phone calls inquiring about the status of applicants, the state has reduced its phone service to 20 hours a week to “catch up”. The toll free number (1-800-291-2002) set up to assist those who wish to register for benefits over the phone currently operates 4 days a week from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

FoodShare, formerly known as Food Stamps, entitles the recipient to government help when they have little or no money for food. According to the USDA, each FoodShare dollar spent at the grocery store has a multiplying economic impact of $1.84 to the local economy. Because of the backlog in FoodShare benefits over the last 5 months, Hunger Task Force approximates a loss in federal funding of $21.5 million being kept out of Milwaukee’s struggling economy.

The state FoodShare backlog has created a desperate situation in Milwaukee County and we call on the state to immediately provide FoodShare benefits to all eligible backlogged cases. These are people living in crisis who, though no fault of their own, are not getting the benefits to which they are legally entitled. In order to ensure the federal rights of Milwaukee’s needy, the state should fully and appropriately staff the welfare office and its telephones so people can apply for and receive help on the same day. There needs to be a long term plan that includes state and county cooperation for modernization of FoodShare to protect those who need it most in Milwaukee.

Visuals: Coggs Center (welfare office) at 12th and Vliet, Room 105

Interviews: Available by request, contact Dana Hartenstein at (414) 588-1131.

Hunger Task Force is an anti-hunger organization which believes that every person has a right to adequate food obtained with dignity. Hunger Task Force works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing free food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve food security tomorrow.