At least that’s what this story from The Herald-Sun of Durham implies. It points out that a record 21,653 people in Durham County get food stamps. This is a good thing because:
The program pumps $24.5 million into Durham’s economy annually.
But not all of the people in Durham County who are eligible for food stamps actually get them, the story reports:
But [food stamp program manager Barbara] Daniels said 41 percent of eligible county
residents — about another 15,000 people — are having to choose
between food, medication or paying the rent and are not getting the
assistance they’re entitled to. …
Planned efforts to reach the unserved eligible population include a
partnership with Urban Ministries of Durham, Daniels said. Social
services staff could spend three days per week handling applications at
that organization’s downtown shelter or training the shelter’s staff to
do it themselves. Daniels also hopes to train local churches to help
get the word out.
Imagine what that will do for the economy!
