More Alabamians turn to food stamps as costs rise
MONTGOMERY — State records show that more people in Alabama are using food stamps as the prices of groceries go up.
The number of people receiving food stamps monthly in Alabama increased by 6 percent from May 2007 to May 2008. Almost 31,000 more people received the aid for a total of 541,000.
State welfare agency data also shows the amount of food stamp dollars paid monthly in Alabama increased by 11 percent from May 2007 to May 2008, going from about $49.7 million to $55.3 million.
Viewed over a four-year period ending May 2008, the amount of food stamp dollars given monthly in Alabama increased by a third — from $41.6 million to $55.3 million — while the number participating climbed by 78,000.
Senior Alabama Arise policy analyst Ron Gilbert said greater use of food stamps can be one of the most sensitive indicators of a troubled economy.
But only a little more than half of people eligible for food stamps have signed up for them. Barry Spear, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, said the state and federal governments are trying to raise awareness.
"We hope that part of the reason that the number of recipients is going up is because we've worked to increase the rolls," he said.
