State services feeling pinch
|
|
Toolbox
By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau - Published: September 20, 2009
MONTPELIER — Measuring the effects of the recession on Vermonters is not always straightforward. It can be personal and emotional, as well as financial. But there are numbers that give at least some idea of its scope.
Some of the best come from Vermont 2-1-1, a program of the United Ways of Vermont that connects those seeking help with services of all kinds.
The program, in its fifth year, has been growing since its inception. But the jump in calls through the service starting in late-summer 2008 and into that fall is hard to ignore, particularly for those needing services.
Likewise, the program has, in recent months, bought only a small amount of advertising, meaning increases in use this year are likely due to need, not just word of the program spreading, said MaryEllen Mendl, the program's head.
"The numbers are reflective of what is going on not only in Vermont but in the country," Mendl said.
For instance, 69 people called for assistance with food programs in July 2008. That number was 91 in July of this year.
The numbers are not without fluctuation — the calls for food help dipped in August to 51, lower than they have been in any month since June 2008 — but Mendl said she does not expect that to be the start of a trend.
"I sense that is going to grow," she said. "There is definitely food insecurity in the state."
Food calls are not the only measurement in the 2-1-1 system that had grown substantially. And it is not only 2-1-1 that is seeing increased demand during the recession.
State agencies that help those in need have, as well.
"Those numbers went up dramatically last year and they have remained at that higher level," said Steve Dale, head of the Department of Children and Families. "We have seen a continued high demand for services."
Between March 2008 and the same month this year, DCF's 3SquaresVt program — the old food stamp program — has increased from 55,752 individuals to 73,035. ReachUp, the former welfare program, has grown from 12,295 to 13,752. General Assistance, bearing much of the brunt of housing crisis, grew from 1,459 households to 2,107.
Not all of those dramatic increases — a 44 percent jump in the case of General Assistance — are attributable just to economic conditions. The rules around some of those programs, both federal and state, have changed over the last year to help citizens through the recession.
An overall increase in statistics of the needy doesn't mean the numbers don't only show bad news. A year ago, high heating oil prices threatened to make it an extremely difficult winter for many poor families statewide — a factor that also increased demand on his department, Dale said.
"The flurry of requests, the big increase in demand last fall was driven in part by fuel prices that were spiking at that time," he said. "There was a major sense of panic."
Because of changes in need and eligibility, the seasonal fuel benefit program grew from 21,700 households in the winter 2007 and 2008 to 26,300 last winter.
That pressure likely will be significantly eased this year.
Still, the general problem is real, Dale said.
"It is related totally to unemployment," he said.
The so-called "green shoots," like the partial stock market recovery, have yet to reach those Vermonters, even if they are a real sign of economic recovery.
"For someone who has lost a job, none of those signs mean anything," Dale said.
Of course, there are many more Vermonters without work.
The unemployment rate has risen from 4.7 percent in August 2008 to 6.8 percent last month. That means about 16,600 Vermonters were counted as unemployed in 2008, and 24,300 now.
The kind of indicators his department looks at — food stamp needs, emergency money for families in need — likely will lag at least three to six months behind the improvement in the economy at large, Dale said.
Gov. James Douglas agreed that even after the economy turns a corner, Vermonters need more help.
"I am concerned that it is going to continue being a problem, and may get worse before it gets better," he said. For one thing, many residents resist using a program such as food stamps until all other options are exhausted, and therefore the peak demand for such programs may come after the recession ends, he warned.
"The actual peak in requests for public programs is likely to be later," Douglas said.
louis.porter@timesargus.com
37