Illinois sees sharp rise in SNAP benefit recipients

(The Center Square) – With the state now home to the seventh highest share of resident using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford is urging lawmakers to do more to aid the growing number of people struggling to make ends meet.

In all, federal government data shows nearly two million residents, or one out of every seven individuals, are now reported to be receiving federal food assistance, leaving the state with 237,383 more SNAP recipients than before the pandemic.

With people struggling the way they are inflation now being what it is, Ford argues its incumbent on the government to step in.

“We saw that people after the pandemic when people reset back to their eligibility levels it really hurt families,” Ford told The Center Square. “Now, we're back down in support and it's not enough with the cost of food going higher. I think with the federal government there should be a major push to increase the benefits for individuals on SNAP so that they’re able to live with dignity and the strength to go fight for a job.”

Ford makes it a point of stressing people are struggling everywhere across the city, highlighting that one out of every three residents in Alexander and Pulaski counties are now receiving benefits. And while Cook County was home to 41% of the state’s population, it accounted for 46% of statewide SNAP recipients, with the city of Chicago totaling 21% of that population.

Former Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey has also seen the struggle, though he quickly adds he thinks the state has become its own worst enemy when it comes to advancing the kind of policy that would give residents their best chance of building a better life for themselves.

Bailey argues policy coming out of Springfield like the Minimum Wage Act has made it harder for businesses to hire and has resulted in more people being I need of government assistance. He adds more businesses are also leaving the state altogether because of Springfield’s overregulation.

“We went from a livable wage to almost no wages and that's why this increased demand for welfare and help exist,” he adds. “Business cannot survive with this nonsense. We need a government that's going to be a government of less regulation, less government, let’s small business thrive.”

Ford counters the solution lies in working together to make sure everyone has what they need.

“When you support people in need with food, you support small businesses and those are the constituents of the Republican Party,” he said. “So while they're fighting to cut benefits for people on SNAP and different entitlements they're only hurting their constituents, their business communities. Cutting welfare, cutting benefits to families puts people in a poor situation. It hurts us all health wise and it also hurts our business economy.”