More Rhode Islanders seek food stamps, jobless benefits

PROVIDENCE—The number of Rhode Islanders on food stamps is growing, and it’s only getting worse.

The number of recipients grew from 80,000 last year to 90,000 this year.  State officials said they expect that number to hit 100,000 next year.

About one in 10 Rhode Islanders is on food stamps. Officials said thousands more are eligible, but they don’t know it.

Plans for a public campaign on food stamp eligibility are in the works. 

State Rep. Eileen Naughton, D-Warwick, is critical of the lack of outreach to prospective food stamp recipients.

“It should be disturbing that we even have five people that are waiting 30 days when they should have had it in seven,“ Naughton said.

Unemployment is another ugly picture for Rhode Island.

Sandra Powell, the director of the state Department of Labor and Training, said those seeking unemployment checks doubled in one year.

“Last year, we were processing 12,000 unemployment claims. This year, we’re at 24,000 claims,“ Powell said.

Unemployment claims are expected to climb next year.

Applicants can wait up to two hours on the phone when trying to talk to someone about a claim.

“For one week in November, we had 71 staff on board. They took 24,000 assisted calls during one week,“ Powell said.

There are plans to hire more than 20 new workers for the call center, but it takes seven weeks to hire someone because of bureaucratic red tape.

Legislators are also looking at unspent bond money and money from other special accounts to fund unfinished projects that would put some Rhode Islanders back to work.