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November 5, 2009
Social Services: Requests for help skyrocket, especially on Hatteras
By SANDY SEMANS Outer Banks Sentinel  Jay
Burrus, director of Dare County Department of Social Services, recently
told members of the North Banks Rotary Club that the past year had been
record-setting for his agency."October's [2008] 176 applications was an all-time monthly record. November's - which is a short month - 196 applications eclipsed that," said Burrus. "We continued at high levels through the fiscal year, ending up with a monthly average number of applications 52 percent higher than in the previous year and more than a 100 percent higher than in fiscal year 04-05, when our economy was strong." Burrus reported that in August, 2004, 679 individuals applied for food stamps. August, 2008 brought 1,319 applications, and in August, 2009, 2,168 individuals applied for the nutrition assistance - a 219 percent increase over the 2004 figures. "We are seeing people apply who have never received help before," said Burrus. "For example, in October, 2008, 77 of the 176 applications were from families who had no history with our agency." In response to a later request from the Sentinel, Burrus provided a breakdown of food stamp recipients from north and south of Oregon Inlet. County-wide there has been a 164 percent increase in food stamp applications from September, 2005 to September, 2008. According to Burrus, north of Oregon Inlet showed a steady rise from 359 applications in 2005 to 902 in 2009. But Hatteras Island remained flat until 2008 going from 51 applications in 2005 to 54 in 2008. "If, however, you compare 2008 and 2009, the Hatteras Island increase in individuals has been an 81.6 percent, the remainder of Dare [north of Oregon Inlet] 56.6 percent, and the countywide 59.3 percent," said Burrus. "So, in the last year, the increase on Hatteras Island has been considerably higher than the rest of the county." Burrus said requests for other types of assistance also have risen. "We have been a little overwhelmed with requests for assistance with power bills, rent, mortgage and food," said Burrus. "In August, we had 170 requests for assistance, up from 78 in August 2008." But Social Services isn't the only entity seeing the increase in impact on Hatteras Island. Walt Fulcher of Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men's Emergency Assistance and Food Pantry said requests for food and other assistance is continuing to rise. "We did more in October this year than last year," said Fulcher, referring to food provided to residents through the food pantry. "It hasn't slowed down any - it's a little bit worse than a year ago." And requests for help with utility bills and rent are both up from a year ago, he said. "Last year, we paid out $56,000 in assistance and now we are up from that this year." Fulcher said the slowdown everywhere of construction and real estate has hurt the island economy and that the off-road vehicle closures have added a bit to the problem. To donate money to Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men's Emergency Assistance and Food Pantry, mail to POB 1591, Buxton, NC, 27920. Those who wish to donate food can call Fulcher at 252-995-5772. (This article was written by Outer Banks Sentinel Editor Sandy Semans and is reprinted with permission. To reach her: sandy@obsentinel.com. For more Outer Banks news, go to http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/) |
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