Government

Recession Causes Dramatic Spike in Local Social Services

Freeholder reports 122 percent increase in food stamps, 2007-2009.

By Don Bennett
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December 18, 2010

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Families filing for food stamp assistance in Rockland County are facing long waits for their applications to be processed because of a staff shortage at the county Social Services Department.

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Credit Varsha Dougba

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More and more people from Lacey Township and elsewhere are turning to services provided by Ocean County's Board of Social Services and Department of Human Services for help during the recession, according to Freeholder Gerry P. Little.

Programs they offer "are increasingly seen as a financial lifeline for many families,'' Little said.

In 2007, the number of people turning to the county for help has more than doubled in some programs,he said. "It's important our residents know they have a place to turn in these difficult times,'' he explained.

More than $500 million in federal and state funds, and $19 million from county government pay for 70 programs to help the needy, he said.

The number of families seeking temporary assistance jumped from 753 to 1,198 families between 2007 and 2009. The staff saw 113,052 people seeking help last year, and is on a pace to set a new record this year.

Every night, many homeless people are in shelters provided through a variety of programs.

The number of people getting food stamps increased 122 percent since 2007, to 16,580 between 2007 and 2009.

Related Topics: ocean county freeholders

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disgusted homeowner

8:21 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011

With a lack of serious good paying jobs and a growing higher cost of living here in the county, no wonder so many are seeking assistance. Fast food, service and low paying retail sector jobs just don't cut it when you're trying to support a family, and pay rent or a mortgage. It's not as cheap as it used to be to live in Ocean county as many are finding out the hard way........

john jameson

11:46 am on Friday, May 20, 2011

George
I believe your are referring to the beginning of the recession when you say "grap". Which party had control of congress in 2007 when the "grap "hit the fan? Who chaired the Senate Banking Committee? Who chaired the Financial Services Committee? I'll answer for you--Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. The architects of the largest financial meltdown since the Great Depression. You might want to check how many times the President and the Democratic Congress voted the party line with these meltdown masters. I know you don't like Fox news, so why not hear-- straight from the horse's mouth --the man most responsible for the economic conditions today :
http://youtu.be/3HhOh5lTahI
Enjoy the show on C-SPAN. Now, tell me why the economy is in shambles.

TP

2:53 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

Thanks John, people always forget that the Dems (Pelosi/Reid) controlled Congress for the last two years of the Bush Admins. The Bush Admins. attempted to ring the alarm bell on Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. There's a youtube out there where the Congressional Black Caucus raked the Repubs over the coals over questions on Freddie/Fannie. I can't help but feel there was an orchestrated collapse of the financial system (Soros?) just prior to the election when McCain happened to be up by 6 in the polls after Palin's speech. Bush was foolish enough to sign off on TARP ONE - what a sucker.
At least the Repubs. have the guts (through the Tea Party) to primary their entrenched RINO's. I don't see the dems purging the entrenched communists & socialists out of there party.

tr

2:58 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

"Social services" or free money should be redesignated as "Earned entitlment funds". To earn this monetary relief the entire household should have to qualify by accepting random drug and alcohol testing prior to getting funds. If a person is in the household, over 15 years of age, not employed or attending school, and is employable and not a "primary" caregiver, they MUST leave the household and be sent to the local "Civilian Conservation Corps" barracks, located in the now many abandoned military bases where local entreprenuers can pick up organized, legal day labor, before the household gets ANY government funding. These workers will recieve food, shelter, uniforms, medical care, and education up to a High School GED equivalant. A percentage of their wages earned, pays for those services to the workers and some of it goes back to the family "primary" caregiver. This is WAY outside the box, do not be afraid, it happened in the 30's during the RECESSTION!!!!! No Work No Relief.

Capt. Kirk

6:44 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

by 2005 bush took us from a surplus in 2001 to a $500 billion deficit for his two wars. the bush/cheney combo with its deregulation of big oil and the too big too fail banks left us staggering to recover. thats the funny thing about republicans their memory doesnt go back any farther than jan 20 2009. now the tea party will turn on this new republican congress once they realize they,ve been had and the medicare and social security will be used as a sacrifice to make up for the years of the failed bush tax cuts etc. but just keep it a secret from glen beck and fox. we had bush in office for 9 months already when we had 9/11 and they still will blame clinton. only thing is clinton was gone 9 months already when 9/11 happened . bush/cheney gave us halliburton another huge hole we throw money into. but any sean hannity viewers will be quick to tell you it must be carter's fault if it wasnt clinton. the bush tax cuts add $800 billion for the next two years to let billionaires buy that 4th mansion while the middle class gets sent the bill.

lets go giants

7:28 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

It was an 800 million dollar surplus..Both Clinton and GWB agreed, At this rate we will be debt free by 2010..But GWB decided the wealthy needed a 1.5 Trillion dollar tax break..But go ahead..Blame Obama for it

Capt. Kirk

6:46 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

and tp palin sank mc cain's campaign not tarp. we almost had a pageant contestant a heart beat from the presidency. scary

Capt. Kirk

6:48 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

did i mention bush said in march 2004 he "didnt think about bin laden much anymore" the current president turned him into fish food courtesy of a postcard delivered by order of this president courtesy of navy seals team 6.

Capt. Kirk

9:36 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

yes hooligan you see what the problem is . those like" jameson "have taken this country into the tank for a decade we need real answers ladies and gentlemen and "jameson " your 15 minutes are up.

Capt. Kirk

9:46 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011

and tp "he now proposes to give money to israel, egypt "etc . we have been giving billions to other countries for years already you make it sound like a new idea . its not. obama is carrying on what every president before him has done and that is wrong . also wrong is not getting out of the two bush wars now.