BEND, OR — Hunger is often characterized as a big-city problem, but a new study shows that isn’t the case based on who’s receiving SNAP or food stamp benefits. The Center for Rural Affairs examined SNAP use for a five-year period ending in 2012, and found more than 14% of rural households received food benefits. That compares with less than 11% of urban households.
That difference doesn’t surprise Annie Kirschner with the Partnership for a Hunger-Free Oregon.
“The reality is that the so-called ‘recovery’ has been really slow to take hold in rural Oregon, and the need has outpaced what charity alone can cover.”
Kirschner said a variety of factors contribute to greater SNAP participation in rural areas, including many seasonal and low-paying jobs, plus a shortage of other food assistance options, exacerbated by high gas prices that make it harder to travel for such options. Statewide, 815,000 Oregonians receive SNAP benefits, which average less than $130 per person, per month.
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