Almost 4,000 more Athens County residents are on food stamps this year than there were in 2007.
Ever since 2008, when the stark realities of the Great Recession led government agencies to enact policies that would promote economic growth and support, the state of Ohio waived a federal work requirement for food stamp recipients.
Now, more than four years after the recession ended in June 2009, the state will soon nullify the waiver, leaving county officials scrambling to find work for about 1,000 residents who stand to lose government assistance.
“It’s not at all possible, really,” said Jack Frech, director of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services. “It’s an overwhelming task.”
Frech and other critics in the county argue that the state is implementing the policy too soon because the number of local food stamp recipients has not returned to its pre-recession level.
The state’s new policy will take effect Oct. 1, according to an Ohio Department of Job and Family Services news release. But someone receiving assistance will have until the end of the year to find work, job training or volunteer positions before they are kicked out of the program.
Food stamp participants must clock at least 20 hours per week to stay eligible.
The new policy only affects able-bodied, mentally fit adults aged 18 to 50 who receive federally funded food assistance benefits but do not have children younger than 18.
Although food stamp recipients in urban counties might find jobs quickly, Frech said, the task is not feasible in more rural areas such as Southeast Ohio.
Frech can get exemptions for recipients who cannot find jobs, but he said it is inevitable that some recipients will get dropped from the program altogether.
Ben Johnson, spokesman for Ohio’s Department of Job and Family Services in Columbus, is more optimistic.
“We think that with three months to prepare, counties can find paid work, work training and volunteer opportunities for those affected,” he said, adding that counties will have about $13 million in local, state and federal funds to help line up opportunities.
Johnson also pointed to an additional $42 million from the state that will help with transportation problems to and from a place of employment.
Eliminating the waiver will ultimately help Ohioans receiving assistance become financially independent, Johnson said.
And that is something some here can relate to.
Nick Claussen, spokesman for the county department, said he agrees with Johnson, but also said it is not possible to retain all current food stamp users.
“The whole idea behind it is certainly a good thing and if we can find people jobs, that’s a great thing,” Claussen said.
Sixteen counties, including many in Southeast Ohio, will still have the waiver in place, Johnson said. Those counties are the ones that “are still struggling with especially high unemployment,” according to a news release from the state.
But Athens County — at 9 percent unemployment, the 17th highest in the state, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — is not included, even though the Athens’ rate is the same as Perry County’s, which will still have the state waiver.
Claussen said he wishes state officials would realize Athens County residents are hurting, too.
“I’m definitely worried,” he said.
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@SamuelHHoward
