Members of Oregon Action described alarming problems when applying for food stamps. Others reported that they felt discouraged and mistreated by AFS workers. Some detailed incidents at AFS offices that appeared to be in violation of food stamp law. Many Oregon Action members felt that AFS offices were more focused on creating barriers to the food stamp program than helping them enroll. The food stamp program is Oregon's largest and most important program in the fight against hunger, particularly for children.
Benefits are modest.
Enrollment in the food stamp program was declining rapidly while requests to food banks were skyrocketing. Late in 1999, the US Department of Agriculture confirmed what our members were telling us Oregon was the hungriest state in the nation. We began a testing project following 25 eligible applicants through the application process to understand what barriers prevented eligible people from enrolling in the food stamp program. We examined the enrollment policies and practices at seven AFS local branch offices in Portland and Medford, Oregon in order to identify policies and practices that hinder applicants from applying for food stamps. The results have been published in our Hunger Pangs report.