Tagged: food stamps

As the number of Americans receiving food stamps increases – it has now reached an all time high of more than 21 and a half million households – an ongoing debate over whether the system is working has emerged.

Last fall, over a dozen members of Congress took the “Food Stamp Challenge” to see what it was like to live solely on a food stamp budget for a week. Bay Area representatives Barbara Lee of Oakland and Jackie Speier of San Mateo both participated. Congresswoman Lee had to live on four dollars and fifty cents a day.

The Labor department announced today that weekly unemployment claims nationwide have dropped by 5,000, and the national unemployment rate is now 8.3 percent – the lowest in 4 years. In California, the jobless rate stands at 10.9 percent, down from 12.1 percent a year ago.

On today's Your Call, we’ll talk about who is living on food stamps and how they are making ends meet.  Over 46 million Americans receive food stamps, which allocates an average of $4 per day.  The number of people relying on food stamp programs has risen with the recession.  So how does the system work?  Can you stay healthy on $4 a day?  Join us at 10 or email us at feedback@yourcallradio.org.  If you’re on food stamps, how are you meeting your needs?  It’s Your Call with Rose Aguilar, and You.

Guests: