tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post116441778718183581..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: Call it what you will, hunger still a big problemLarry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1164580883876518182006-11-26T16:41:00.000-06:002006-11-26T16:41:00.000-06:00Anonymous, thanks for your post. In Texas, at lea...Anonymous, thanks for your post. In Texas, at least, it is not that simple at this point. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has outsourced its services through the private company Accenture. The new system is still in a pilot stage and working only in Travis and Hays counties. Accenture claims that once the glitches are removed a person will be able to apply for the Food Stamp program in person, by mail, fax, phone or on-line. So far, that is not working out very well. <BR/><BR/>How many families needing food stamps have access to the Internet? Nationwide approximately 40% of those eligible are not receiving the benefit. <BR/><BR/>Part of the problem has to do with the cultural stigma of the program. Most has to do with the certification process and the time it takes to turn application into benefits--up to 2 months. <BR/><BR/>In Texas, since deciding to outsource, enrollment centers have been closing down. Here at CDM, we offered to fund a case worker to take applications in our large community center. The state was not interested. <BR/><BR/>It is just not an easy process. We continue to lobby for improvement and we will continue to do so.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1164564478413781952006-11-26T12:07:00.000-06:002006-11-26T12:07:00.000-06:00If you google food stamps, one can apply on-line. ...If you google food stamps, one can apply on-line. Am I wrong? Seems like an easy process to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1164554844133550092006-11-26T09:27:00.000-06:002006-11-26T09:27:00.000-06:00Anonymous, thanks for the post. In recent years, ...Anonymous, thanks for the post. In recent years, Texas has "downsized" its service delivery system. Cuts to program funding coupled with closing many certification centers have combined to see the numbers of Texans eligible, but not enrolled grow dramatically. The re-certification process is also more onerous than it needs to be, especailly in view of the meagre level of Food Stamp benefits. The current situation is all the result of a very determined public policy strategy to deny benefits to the poorest of our citizens.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1164519942244292052006-11-25T23:45:00.000-06:002006-11-25T23:45:00.000-06:00RC:Here is one thing that churches can do:http://w...RC:<BR/><BR/>Here is one thing that churches can do:<BR/><A HREF="http://www.centraldallasministries.org/campaigns/hunger/" REL="nofollow">http://www.centraldallasministries.org/campaigns/hunger/</A>Jeremy Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122578682015984032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1164498070526429522006-11-25T17:41:00.000-06:002006-11-25T17:41:00.000-06:00What does the state of Texas need to do that it ha...What does the state of Texas need to do that it hasn't done to make food stamps available?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com