| Press Release |
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| September 29, 2004 |
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Oregon Receives Bonus and Award for Food Stamp Program
(Salem, OR) – Today Governor Kulongoski announced that Oregon has received a $1.9 million bonus from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its success in identifying and enrolling eligible Oregonians in the Food Stamp Program. Oregon was also recognized as a “best” designation state for holding one of the nation’s top-five participant access rates.
"A top priority of my administration since taking office has been to ensure that all Oregonians have access to the food and nutrients they need," said Governor Kulongoski. "Today's announcement demonstrates that our strategies to meet this goal by helping provide Oregon's hungry children and families with critical assistance - like food stamps - are working. While today marks a positive step forward in providing access to those in need, we must continue to expand all of our efforts in the fight to end hunger in our state."
The Oregon Food Stamp Program is managed by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). Oregon’s participant access rate in fiscal year 2003 was 91.4 percent.
The rate is the ratio of participants to the number of people in poverty. Since 2001, when Oregon’s rate was 84 percent, the state has consistently ranked in the top five.
“This speaks to the extensive efforts that our outreach partners, including the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, have been doing to increase access to the food stamp program,” said Ramona Foley, Assistant Department Director for Children, Adults and Families. “Members of the statewide food stamp steering committee continue to find ways to improve access and customer service so that more and more Oregonians are receiving benefits.”
The Food Stamp Program provides support to low-income households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.
The federal government revises food-stamp payments annually to reflect changes in food, housing and other costs. Effective Oct. 1, this will increase benefits by about $8 for a household of one and $28 for a family of four.
Nationally, in June 2004, more than 24 million individuals in more than 10 million households participated in the program. In Oregon in June 2004, more than 400,000 individuals in more than 200,000 households participated.
In addition to the food stamp bonus, Oregon is also receiving
- A Women, Infants and Children grant in the amount of $658,000 to promote breast feeding and consumption of fruits and vegetables. (Only two other states, California and Michigan, are receiving a similar grant.)
- A $15,000 grant to develop concepts to promote breast feeding and consumption of fruits and vegetables. (Four other states are receiving a similar grant.)
Contact:
Marian Hammond, (503) 378-6169
Sue Abrams, Food Stamp Program, (503) 945-5633
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