Spring Break
Students face food insecurity
One in six Oregonians receives food stamps; many students unaware of eligibility
Aleks Cherednicheko
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: News
The shaky economy has left its mark on the state of Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the state's unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in December.
The spike in unemployment numbers has translated into more applications for services like the Children, Adults and Families Division self-sufficiency, which includes food stamps services.
"A lot of people don't know this, but one in six people in Oregon are on food stamps," said Lauri Stewart, communications officer for the CAF program.
In the Corvallis area, there was a 7.7 percent increase in food stamp recipients in Dec. 2008, compared to the previous year.
"These record numbers are certainly not a surprise," Stewart said. "But a lot of people in the state don't know that they are eligible for food stamps."
The tight economy and high unemployment rates have also put more OSU students in a financial choke hold. The university's MealBux program has gotten more applications during this year's winter term.
"We have received 321 applicants, and were able to approve 129," said Chon Madrigal, director of social resources at ASOSU.
"Given the limited budget for the year, we approve applications on a first come, first served basis," he said.
The MealBux program received $90,000 for the entire school year, including the summer term. For fall 2008, the program's budget amounted to $22,000, increasing by $5,000 during winter term and climbing to $32,000 for spring.
Madrigal said that the program's budget is funded by incidental student fees appropriated to ASOSU.
"You want to be able to fund everyone, but you just can't," Madrigal said. "We try and let students know in advance that not everyone gets approved."
Madrigal and his assistant, Yesenia Garcia, do come across extreme need cases - students who live on the street or in their car, which warrant a greater priority then other applicants.
"I understand the need out there in the community. It's very hard to say no," Madrigal said.
The spike in unemployment numbers has translated into more applications for services like the Children, Adults and Families Division self-sufficiency, which includes food stamps services.
"A lot of people don't know this, but one in six people in Oregon are on food stamps," said Lauri Stewart, communications officer for the CAF program.
In the Corvallis area, there was a 7.7 percent increase in food stamp recipients in Dec. 2008, compared to the previous year.
"These record numbers are certainly not a surprise," Stewart said. "But a lot of people in the state don't know that they are eligible for food stamps."
The tight economy and high unemployment rates have also put more OSU students in a financial choke hold. The university's MealBux program has gotten more applications during this year's winter term.
"We have received 321 applicants, and were able to approve 129," said Chon Madrigal, director of social resources at ASOSU.
"Given the limited budget for the year, we approve applications on a first come, first served basis," he said.
The MealBux program received $90,000 for the entire school year, including the summer term. For fall 2008, the program's budget amounted to $22,000, increasing by $5,000 during winter term and climbing to $32,000 for spring.
Madrigal said that the program's budget is funded by incidental student fees appropriated to ASOSU.
"You want to be able to fund everyone, but you just can't," Madrigal said. "We try and let students know in advance that not everyone gets approved."
Madrigal and his assistant, Yesenia Garcia, do come across extreme need cases - students who live on the street or in their car, which warrant a greater priority then other applicants.
"I understand the need out there in the community. It's very hard to say no," Madrigal said.
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