A growing number of county households getting food stamps

El Paso County residents are applying for food stamps in record numbers and staying on the relief program longer.

"It's the highest we've seen," Department of Human Services deputy director Rick Bengtsson said Wednesday. "It's gone through the roof in the past three months."

The increased number of people receiving federally funded food stamps is a symptom of the down economy and rising unemployment in the Colorado Springs area.

Unemployment was at 6.7 percent in November, the highest monthly rate in the region since January 2002, and up 2 percent from a year earlier.

In January 2008, El Paso County gave out $3.3 million in food stamps. It remained relatively stable until it jumped to $4.4 million in October and surged in December to $5.3 million.

The number of households relying on food stamps increased by 26 percent from the beginning of 2008 to December - rising to 17,464 from 13,880 households. The biggest increase has come since October, human services data show.

"Each month we've been adding," Bengtsson said. "What's happening is people are staying on longer. They're unemployed or underemployed, and they're recertifying" eligibility.

The increase in food stamps shouldn't come as a surprise. Local food pantries and soup kitchens have seen demand spike in recent months.

"People losing their jobs is part of it," he said. "And it's hard to find jobs. It's tough out there."

Elizabeth Burfitt and Eugene Martinez, who hope to wed in the next year or so, can attest to that. They were among 50 to 60 people at the food stamp office Wednesday afternoon where 60 new food stamp applications are received per day.

Moving here three months ago from New Mexico, both found work - Martinez at a pawn shop and Burfitt as a part-time Wal-Mart cashier. But after he pays child support and bills, they have $40 left.

"We don't have enough money to feed ourselves," Burfitt said. "We're happy we have jobs, but we still don't have enough money."

Isaac Woods was also in the food stamp line. Fresh out of prison from a drug charge, he's living in a homeless shelter until he can land a job and get back on his feet. He said that food stamps are "transitional" for him, and that he's optimistic he'll find work soon.

"You gotta compromise," he said of the job market. "You're going to have to lower your standards a little bit - take a part-time job or less pay."

Nationwide, 31 million people were on the Department of Agriculture-funded food stamp program in October, the most recent figure available.

That's the highest number in history except when Hurricane Katrina pushed thousands onto the program, according to the Food Research and Action Center, a Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunger policy group.

In Colorado, food stamp recipients have increased by 18.2 percent in the past five years, the research center reports.

In one month alone, from September to October, Colorado's rolls went up by 2.8 percent, the 15th highest one-month rise in the nation.

TO QUALIFY

1. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
2. Gross income levels cannot exceed 130 percent of the poverty level, which is $26,856 for a family of four.

In depth
Information at http://dhs.elpasoco.com/CPFS or call
444-5349.