Oregon Public Broadcasting


Oregon’s prolonged bad economy continues to drive up demand for state assistance.  That’s according to new numbers from state officials Wednesday.

The Department of Human Services says from February to March, an additional 7,100 people applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance – better known as “food stamps”. The total caseload is 23 percent bigger than a year ago, and 44 percent bigger than two years ago. Gene Evans, a Human Services spokesman, said, "And it's kind of a double-whammy for the state. We've got more people who are staying on the program longer at the same time that we've got new families that are being added who need the assistance, and need help to feed their families."


Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is also up nine percent over this time last year. But TANF demand has risen even more in some parts of Oregon. It’s up 16 percent in Washington County and the southeastern Oregon over the last year.