Search Results
The following is an archived video story. The text content of that video story is available below
for reference. The original video has been deleted and is no longer available.
Poverty Rates On Track To Hit Highest Level
The country's poverty level is on track to reach the highest rates since the 1960's. Central Illinois is not immune.
Riverton resident Matt Reckamp is having a tough time making ends meet with his job working in warehouse processing that has no benefits and no overtime.
"It's difficult with the money I bring in to provide food for my family," Reckamp said.
Last year, he applied for a link card through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - or SNAP - the state's food stamp program.
Reckamp is not alone. There has been a steady increase in people across central Illinois applying for the benefits; which come from federal dollars, through the USDA.
To get a link card for groceries, a family of four has to make less than $29,064 a year.
Leslie Curry, a case manager with the Department of Human Services said, "We serve a lot of working families who their paychecks aren't stretching far enough anymore."
From June of 2010, through June of 2012, Christian, Macon, Logan and Sangamon Counties had double digit increases in SNAP cases.
Cases in Sangamon County went up 24.4%. Christian County has the biggest increase with 25.8% in just two years.
"It really doesn't surprise me because there's been a lot of jobs lost over the years.. not a lot recently but there's no new jobs," said Christian County Board Chairman Paul Schmitz. He added leaders are doing what they can to bring jobs to the area, but it's tough with limited resources.
Parts of Christian County are enterprise zones. They give businesses tax incentives, to develop in blighted areas.
"But a good many places have that so you're fighting that kind of competition," Schmitz said.
The official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 %. That was the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. Census figures for 2011 will be released next month. They will likely show poverty spreading at record levels across many groups.
Matt Reckamp admits he doesn't necessarily want government help. He continues to look for a more permanent position in warehouse processing; but in the meantime, he'll continue to take advantage of the $180 a month on his link card to buy groceries.
"It helps out me and my family so we don't have to worry about what's our next meal or when's my next paycheck and if i'm going to have to choose between bills or food for my family."
Because the SNAP program is federally funded, the state's budget crisis hasn't affected the amount people receive. But the state has consolidated a few DHS offices to save money. Curry says it has helped clients get benefits quicker because of a better staffed office.
Poverty Rates On Track To Hit Highest Level
The country's poverty level is on track to reach the highest rates since the 1960's. Central Illinois is not immune.
Riverton resident Matt Reckamp is having a tough time making ends meet with his job working in warehouse processing that has no benefits and no overtime.
"It's difficult with the money I bring in to provide food for my family," Reckamp said.
Last year, he applied for a link card through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - or SNAP - the state's food stamp program.
Reckamp is not alone. There has been a steady increase in people across central Illinois applying for the benefits; which come from federal dollars, through the USDA.
To get a link card for groceries, a family of four has to make less than $29,064 a year.
Leslie Curry, a case manager with the Department of Human Services said, "We serve a lot of working families who their paychecks aren't stretching far enough anymore."
From June of 2010, through June of 2012, Christian, Macon, Logan and Sangamon Counties had double digit increases in SNAP cases.
Cases in Sangamon County went up 24.4%. Christian County has the biggest increase with 25.8% in just two years.
"It really doesn't surprise me because there's been a lot of jobs lost over the years.. not a lot recently but there's no new jobs," said Christian County Board Chairman Paul Schmitz. He added leaders are doing what they can to bring jobs to the area, but it's tough with limited resources.
Parts of Christian County are enterprise zones. They give businesses tax incentives, to develop in blighted areas.
"But a good many places have that so you're fighting that kind of competition," Schmitz said.
The official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 %. That was the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. Census figures for 2011 will be released next month. They will likely show poverty spreading at record levels across many groups.
Matt Reckamp admits he doesn't necessarily want government help. He continues to look for a more permanent position in warehouse processing; but in the meantime, he'll continue to take advantage of the $180 a month on his link card to buy groceries.
"It helps out me and my family so we don't have to worry about what's our next meal or when's my next paycheck and if i'm going to have to choose between bills or food for my family."
Because the SNAP program is federally funded, the state's budget crisis hasn't affected the amount people receive. But the state has consolidated a few DHS offices to save money. Curry says it has helped clients get benefits quicker because of a better staffed office.
