11 months ago
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It's an all-time record: nearly one in ten Americans are using food stamps to put food on the kitchen table.
In Duval County, food stamps applications are up 26 percent, with 93,461 people now getting assistance, compared to a year ago.
But smaller counties also saw an increase in 2008. In Clay County, there's a 35 percent jump to more than 11,000 people.
And in St. Johns County, a dramatic 52 percent increase in the number of people asking for food stamps.
"There's no doubt we've had layoffs. In some industries, you're seeing people having to work less hours because of cutbacks," John Harrell of the Department of Children and Families told First Coast News' Erich Spivey.
To help with the increase in demand, DCF started a new Web site two days ago called Access Florida. You can see if you qualify for benefits online and complete applications for food stamps.
That helps people avoid lines at local offices that have new people needing assistance.
"At times like these, when the economy is very challenged, the need for social services is stronger than ever," Harrell says.
For more information, click here.
First Coast News