Posted on 09/07/2005 5:10:30 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
Hurricane evacuees seeking food stamps in Texas started as a trickle and quickly turned into a torrent - eight applications the first day mushroomed to more than 26,000 within four days. To varying degrees, the same story is playing out around the country as state and local governments take in Gulf Coast refugees by the thousands, taxing social programs that in many cases already were stretched thin.
Minnesota, already working to absorb a wave of roughly 5,000 Hmong refugees from Laos, is preparing for up to 3,000 Katrina victims while still feeling budget cuts in health assistance and job training that have taken effect since 2001.
"We're not what we were five years ago," said Marcia Avner of the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits. "And the reality is, private charity cannot make up the difference."
In Oklahoma, Gov. Brad Henry spoke for many Tuesday when he talked of a desire to be helpful tempered by the concern that "we don't want to stretch ourselves too thin."
"We know it will be a strain," he said. "I think we will be OK."
In many places, concerns about cost were taking a back seat to the impulse to help, at least for now.
San Francisco was moving ahead with plans to house at least 300 Katrina evacuees despite warnings that the city could lose out on federal money by responding too quickly to a Red Cross request for help.
"We're taking these 300 whether we get reimbursed or not," said Annemarie Conroy, director of the city's Office of Emergency Services.
That thought was echoed across the country, in South Carolina, which prepared to take in as many as 18,000 refugees.
"The cost associated with this is kind of secondary at the moment," said Chris Drummond, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, adding that the state still remembers the help it got when hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. "We're going to return the favor."
Each state is coping in its own way. Arkansas' governor wants to tap the state's $100 million budget surplus; Tennessee is dipping into its rainy-day fund, at least temporarily; Massachusetts was working on an emergency spending bill.
And states are counting on significant help from the federal government, which approved a $10.5 billion down payment for hurricane relief last week. Congress is likely to approve far more in the days ahead, including assistance targeted for housing, health care, education and other needs.
Marcia Avner, mentioned here with authority is none other than a supporter of America Coming Together, John Kerry, and one other Dem candidate.
Her grand total in political contributions:
Total Contributions: 1553.00
Money apparently better spent on losers than on charity.
I wonder if anyone told the writer that Food Stamps are 100% federally funded. I'm not sure how that equates to a headline about the demand straining states' budgets.
At least the federal FS bureaucrats will like the numbers. They've been bitching to the states for several years that the caseloads are too low.
Uh, federal guys? The economy is, like, doing okay. The caseloads are going to drop, you morons.
So I'm a little confused.
The Red Cross is collecting money, the Salvation Army is collecting money, various and sundry other organizations are collecting money...all to help the hurricane victims.
Then the hurricane victims will also be getting federal aid plus for awhile at least, free housing and free food through the above mentioned organizations.
Seems like it's going to be a nightmare of accountability for all the money exchanging hands from the private sector to the charities. And for some individuals who know how to "work the system," it will be a boon.
"I wonder if anyone told the writer that Food Stamps are 100% federally funded."
...and that Food Stamps are part of the USDA, so next time you hear someone bi+ching about the Dept. of Agriculture's inflated budget, remind them, please...it's not all going to farmers.
Food Stamps are part of the USDA, so next time you hear someone bi+ching about the Dept. of Agriculture's inflated budget, remind them, please...it's not all going to farmers.
THANK YOU FOR REMINDING EVERYONE!!! Also HUD is with USDA as well. Many in MO are applying for food stamps and not seeking temp employment. On the bright side many children are showing up at school and college campuses so thats what we're supporting. Nothing from us is going south (I'm sorry to say).
Accountability.........
WE don't need no stinkin accountability!
At the suggestion of writer Michelle Malkin last Friday, I have cobbled together a blogsite called Texas Clearinghouse for Katrina Aid to serve as a clearinghouse for refugee efforts in Texas.
Texas is getting more refugees than any other state -- that's fine, we'll take them all -- but we need help providing them with food, clothing, and shelter.
If you are a refugee, you can information that will help you find relief. If you want to donate or volunteer, you can find someone who needs you.
Right now the site mostly covers Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas but I will add various churches, schools, and other charities in Lubbock and Austin tonight. My wife was down at Reunion Arena in Dallas yesterday handing out care packages and spiritually ministering to the refugees as a representative of her employer. She says that the situation is tragic and that there's a lot of work to be done. There are so many children who don't know where their parents are or even if their parents are still alive.
There are a lot of churches and other organizations in Texas that need help in dealing with the problem and I would appreciate it if you would get the word out.
Many thanks,
Michael McCullough
Stingray blogsite
No, HUD is separate. But it's worth going to the USDA website for a glance. USDA is the Forest Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Natural Resources and Conservation Service, Rural Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and a bunch of other stuff you ordinarily don't think about. They worry a lot about Mad Cow disease, are pushing hard for rural broadband, and are in the process of reintroducing the American chestnut.
My point is simply that government does a lot of perfectly constructive, taken-for-granted things that go on under the radar screens of controversialists like us. That's why, though I'm a conservative, I try to stay away from the reflexive government bashing that comes so naturally to some folks.
Oh yeah, USDA also does crop supports, although that is probably going to be throttled way back in the next farm bill due to international trade negotiations.
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