Where Does It End?

We ARE in trouble. There are so many needy people in our state, and our Department of Human Services can barely keep up with providing them with the assistance they need. I just know that the only “fix” out there is to re-evaluate what wee the people truly believe in, and act upon it NOW. From the AP.

More Oregonians seek financial help from the state


Associated Press

September 17, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- The state's Department of Human Services has gone from a $23 million budget surplus to a $71.6 million deficit in the last eight months as the number of Oregonians in need rises.

Food and energy prices have become unaffordable for many Oregon families, and thousands are beginning to turn to the state for financial help.

More than 50,000 Oregonians received welfare assistance from the state last month, a 17 percent increase over August 2007.

The number of Oregonians using food stamps has also increased. Nearly a half-million Oregonians received food stamps, a 10 percent increase from 2007.

A state analysis estimates that social service caseloads will continue to rise into 2009.

Human Services director Dr. Bruce Goldberg says he will present a plan next week to plug the new hole in the agency's $3.3 billion budget without cutting services.