The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.
HOMENEWSARTS & ENTERTAINMENTFOOD

Food Stamp Use At Record Highs

By aaroncynic in News on Aug 11, 2011 2:30PM

2011_8_11_food_stamps.jpg Food stamp use among Americans is at an all time high. Progress Illinois reports one in five Americans receive food stamps. Earlier this year, nearly 2 million people in Illinois received aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which administers the program. Cook County had the highest concentration of recipients, a total of 950,300. A record number 45 million Americans received food stamp assistance in May.

A Daily Herald report shows that numbers of people receiving aid have been rising steadily in Cook and the collar counties. In an average month, SNAP recipients have gone up 46 percent in Cook County, 133 percent in DuPage County, 84 percent in Lake County, 96 percent in Kane County, 168 percent in McHenry County and 74 percent in Will County.

food desertsfood stamp use on the risefood stampshungerpovertyprogress illinoisrecord number of people on food stampsSNAP assistance

Best of Chicagoist

The Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants In ChicagoThe Best Restaurants For Vegetarians In ChicagoThe Best 'Anti-Brunch' Breakfast Spots In Chicago, Where You Can Eat All Week4 Chicago Spots With Can't-Miss Pumpkin Spice LattesOur Readers Picked The Best Burger Spot In Chicago