Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Cars and Parts Swap Meet
Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > March > 23 > Entry
Tina Osso: You can’t eat that expensive house
There has been a firestorm of media attention given to a family that allegedly has more than $400,000 in assets and savings, is receiving unemployment, disability payments and food stamps. Warren County commissioners and the county administrator have expressed outrage at what appears to be an abuse of the system.
I, however, am outraged at the number of people in Warren County who are apparently eligible for food assistance, but are not receiving that help. There are 13,000 people living in Warren County who meet the criteria for assistance, with incomes that are 130 percent of the poverty level. Yet, fewer than 6,000 people are receiving those benefits.
Why doesn’t this fact anger the county commissioners?
A low-income working mom, earning $7.30 an hour, recently appeared on CNN, being interviewed about this story, and she, too, expressed outrage when she has to fight every month to keep her food stamps. So why is it that this mom has to fight each month for her food stamps in Warren County, and why aren’t the commissioners as troubled by this?
The “categorical eligibility” rule in question is not a loophole, as described by the commissioners. It is a law designed to streamline the process of applying for food assistance. Especially in these economic times, many laid-off people who may have nice homes and cars now find themselves stuck with “assets” not worth the money they owe on them and no way to pay for them. They may need help just to provide the basics for their families.
I have news for Warren County commissioners: I don’t care how nice your home or car is. You can’t eat them. And good luck selling them right now.
Since we don’t know this individual’s situation, it’s ridiculous to speculate on whether he or she needs government help. And, frankly, it is not the county commissioners’ job to determine who needs help and who doesn’t. That’s why the food assistance program is a federally funded and mandated program — so eligibility criteria are applied equally. Receipt of benefits is not based on political whim or headline-grabbing, one-sided stories.
However, there does appear to be a serious breach of confidentiality at the county level, and steps should be taken to ensure that client confidentiality is sacrosanct.
Do commissioners have such a short memory? Weren’t they outraged when the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services left her job in disgrace because someone in the department searched confidential databases looking for information about “Joe the Plumber”? How is this breach of confidentiality any different? Or is this just another way for the commissioners and administrator to discourage county residents who need help from seeking help?
This is the perfect example of why the state and county Job and Family Services agencies need adequate funding to hire and train professional caseworkers to do the required reviews and investigations, honor client confidentiality and apply the law fairly and compassionately. You never know when it might be you, your mom or son or a friend who is standing in that line applying for help.
Making that decision is hard enough without also having to worry whether your life story will be turned into headline news the next day.
Tina Osso is executive director of Shared Harvest Foodbank.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Guest Columns, Social Services
Comments
By Been There
March 23, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this
When I was living in an apartment and out of work 3 years ago, I tried to get food stamps but was denied because my name was on the deed of a house that my ex lived in. I had to quit claim the house in order to eat. It made no sense whatsoever.By flipper
March 23, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this
The food stamp assistance program has been riddled with problems since day one. People find a way to circumvent the system. Years ago I saw a woman pay for food with food stamps (now they have a debit card so as not to stigmatize) and she went to the parking lot and got is a very nice late model Cadillac. So things have not changed all that much, now have they………By DAvidss2
March 23, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this
Tina Osman pretends outrage over the “outing” of a high worth person receiving foodstamps. The idea that who gets my tax money for food stamps is secret is a problem for me. Listing names of people will identify those getting paid under the table for work and living in circumstances not meriting foodstamps. Keeping secrecy around people allows this liberal ripoff of other people’s tax money to occur. The Jobs director in Ohio ORDERED people to use their state computers against a private citizen for POLITICAL purposes; that’s completely different from checking on who should and should not be receiving OPM (other people’s tax money). How does Tina know “There are 13,000 people living in Warren County who meet the criteria for assistance, with incomes that are 130 percent of the poverty level. Yet, fewer than 6,000 people are receiving those benefits” if she hasn’t violated their privacy? She should stick to collecting other people’s money for her business. BTW has her business been thoroughly checked to be sure there are no abuses of what she collects and distributes for her own or friends’ personal gain?By TRS
March 23, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this
Apparently there are some folks trying to make it without government assistance. Congratulations to them! If they truly have need and desire it, then by all means provide it if they qualify but Ms Osso seems to be suggesting that the commissioners solicit folks to sign up. I would agree that lack of liquid assets can put some in a pinch; but, the the article indicates the family in question has savings as well and it would seem that if they can liquidate some of that, it would be appropriate. Inadvertently, Ms Osso points out the folly when the federal government seeks to administer a program for the inefficiencies almost always lead to waste and abuse.By Julie
March 23, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this
People that have no way to pay for a home or car usually have those “assets” repossessed.By Julia Gomez
March 24, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this
The columnist got the data on food stamp eligibility and actual use by looking at income statistics for the area, not by invading anyone’s privacy. The ‘welfare Cadillac’ urban myth, i.e. falsehood, is sold tired, it is surprising anyone would bother trotting it out. It would actually be better if more eligible people availed themselves of food stamps. Then, they would have their remaining cash available to pay bills and buy non-food items.By Raoul
March 25, 2009 8:28 AM | Link to this
Julia, the welfare Cadillac ‘myth’ as you say, happens all the time. Anyone working at a retail sales cash register sees it all the time. Some people are fooling some other people all of the time.By Connie
March 28, 2009 4:44 AM | Link to this
Back in the early 70’s, my mother had no money to pay for food or much of anything else after my step-father had a sudden mental breakdown, from which he never recovered, and was fired from his long term and well paid job. My mother needed assistance and went to the welfare office wearing a mink coat (a gift from her parents years earlier). She had 3 children to feed and, though today she might have sold it with a free listing on Craigslist, back then there was nothing of the sort available. She simply had no money for food. Up to that point, we had lived well, but very middle class. My mother said she was going to go with her head up and she did, but she never liked it. Soon after, she was lucky enough to find a job good enough to pay the mortgage and provide food for her children. Now, she can laugh when telling the story, but back then it was not funny to her and asking for assistance was one of the hardest things she ever did.