Amy Sienicki & Associated Press
 
November 18, 2008
 
SALEM, Ore. -- The number of Oregon families that received cash welfare or food stamps has substantially increased this year, and one of the hardest hit areas is Southern Oregon.
 
Cash welfare assistance in the state was up 16.1 percent last month from October 2007, while the number of households receiving food stamps increased by about 13 percent. An additional 29,000 households are using the Oregon Trail Card this year. There's been a 16 percent increase in the number of people receiving TANIF, or Temporary Assitance for Needy Families, a cash assistance program for parents with children.
 
The Department of Human Services says in Jackson and Josephine counties the number of households accepting food stamps is up more than 18 percent this year. More than twice as many Medford familes received temporary food assistance last month as October of 2007.
 
Food 4 Less says they've seen about a 20-percent increase in the number of shoppers using food stamps or the Oregon Trail Card in the last few months.
 
DHS says the higher need in Southern Oregon is partly due to the region's tough job market. They say they're also seeing a lot of people in the real estate industry come in for the first time.
 
Meanwhile, in Bend, the number of households receiving welfare cash rose 30 percent last month compared with October 2007.
 
To find out if you are eligible for food stamps or TANIF visit www.oregonhelps.org