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Increased food stamp needs creating long lines, crowded street
By ALLEN JONES
A special federally approved disaster supplement is allowing the Texas Health and Human Service Commission to increase the amount of emergency food stamps many Hurricane Ike victims will receive this month. It also means those low-income households eligible to receive the food assistance are often waiting in long lines to apply.
Lines of people have been forming outside the Tomball location of Health and Human Service, 29250 Tomball Pkwy. near the Hicks Street intersection, waiting to apply for food stamps. Nearby businesses have been inundated with an increase in the number of vehicles parked in front of stores and the city of Tomball has had to put additional resources to monitor the situation.
“Tomball is at a huge disadvantage because Houston has been sending people up here (to the Tomball HHSC location) since about three days after Hurricane Ike,” said Tomball City Manager Jan Belcher. “We have been using city resources to clear parking lots many times. Public Works has replaced barricades on a number of occasions. I can’t tell you the amount of resources the city has spent on this.”
In addition to the number of cars lined along Hicks Street, Tomball Public Works crews also blocked portions of the street as they worked to fix a drainage problem at the Libery Lane intersection, last week.
“If you saw the flooding during the hurricane, we can’t stop that project because of Health and Human Service needs,” Belcher said.
The city has been trying to keep vehicles from parking on Hicks Street itself while trying to keep access to businesses open.
Belcher said the city has gone above and beyond assessing the situation because city administrators know the people seeking assistance really need the help but they also understand businesses near the HHSC location need to be able to operate.
“Police go by the area 8 times a day during business hours,” she said. “I drive by myself to make sure people are parking off the road. Nearby businesses have opened portions of their parking lots, but there still is not enough room.”
Belcher also said city officials are asking residents to be patient during this time as they know a number of homes on the street have not yet had their tree debris picked up.
“I’m telling citizens the food stamp office is giving help to people. We need to be patient,” she said. “The debris will eventually be picked up.”
Jeff Stallones, owner of the shopping center where the Health and Human Service operates out of said the increase in applicants has had an impact on his other clients in the center such as Curves, a workout facility geared to women, and Weichert Realty, a real estate sales office that is operating out of the former Zebo’s Coffee shop.
“I’m doing everything I can to relieve the parking situation, but tenants have to be able to stay in business,” he said. “I would like to see Health and Human Services temporarily relocate to a better location to handle the increase in food stamp applicants.”
Stollones said he has heard that some of the people who have been waiting in line for hours for assistance only come away with $14.
HHSC has approved more than 130,000 applications for special disaster food stamps since Hurricane Ike arrived on the Texas coast. According to an Oct. 1 press statement issued by the health commission, on average, individuals and families received $226 in food stamps for October. The amounts range from a low of $14 to maximums that vary based on the size of the family.
“When someone comes away with $14, it is like they are standing in line for $3 an hour,” Stallones said.
The new policy applies to low-income households eligible for food stamps in the 29 counties declared federal disaster areas after the hurricane.
“Our offices have been seeing many low-income families who aren’t currently receiving food stamps,” said Albert Hawkins, HHS Executive Commissioner, in the Oct. 1 press statement. “In many cases, these families lost food because of power outages or flooding, and they’re also facing other financial pressures this month. This special disaster supplement will help them feed their families while they continue to rebuild and recover after Hurricane Ike.”
According to HHSC, the amount of food stamps a family receives is based on income and household size. The new policy does not change the maximum benefits allowed for the program, meaning households already approved for the maximum allotment level in October aren’t eligible for additional food stamps. Other food stamp recipients in the 29 counties declared disaster areas will automatically receive higher food stamp allotments this month. This includes household approved for food stamps before the hurricane.
More than 240,000 families are expected to have their food stamp benefits increased in October. The amount of the increase will vary depending on the family’s size and income level.
For example, a family of three with an income of $1,143 will receive $451 in food stamps this month - an increase of $331 over the standard allotment of $120. An individual with income of $870 in October will get $170 - an increase of $156 over the standard allotment of $14.
Stallones said he was told that food stamp recipients do not need to visit the Tomball location or reapply.
According to the HHSC, food stamp recipients will begin receiving the supplements automatically to their Lone Star Cards, a debit card. Hurricane Ike victims seeking benefits for the first time may apply online at www.yourtexasbenefits.com.
Don’t have Internet Access?
Here are some places Hurricane Ike victims may visit to use the Internet to apply online for benefits through the Texas Health and Human Service Commission:
Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library, 30555 Tomball Pkway. Internet and free WiFi access.
Starbucks, 21503 Tomball Pkwy. Free WiFi access in café for customers.
Southwest Texas Coffee Co., 425 W Main St. Free WiFi access in café for customers.
Magnolia Diner, 18423 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Free WiFi access in diner for customers.
Lines of people have been forming outside the Tomball location of Health and Human Service, 29250 Tomball Pkwy. near the Hicks Street intersection, waiting to apply for food stamps. Nearby businesses have been inundated with an increase in the number of vehicles parked in front of stores and the city of Tomball has had to put additional resources to monitor the situation.
“Tomball is at a huge disadvantage because Houston has been sending people up here (to the Tomball HHSC location) since about three days after Hurricane Ike,” said Tomball City Manager Jan Belcher. “We have been using city resources to clear parking lots many times. Public Works has replaced barricades on a number of occasions. I can’t tell you the amount of resources the city has spent on this.”
In addition to the number of cars lined along Hicks Street, Tomball Public Works crews also blocked portions of the street as they worked to fix a drainage problem at the Libery Lane intersection, last week.
“If you saw the flooding during the hurricane, we can’t stop that project because of Health and Human Service needs,” Belcher said.
The city has been trying to keep vehicles from parking on Hicks Street itself while trying to keep access to businesses open.
Belcher said the city has gone above and beyond assessing the situation because city administrators know the people seeking assistance really need the help but they also understand businesses near the HHSC location need to be able to operate.
“Police go by the area 8 times a day during business hours,” she said. “I drive by myself to make sure people are parking off the road. Nearby businesses have opened portions of their parking lots, but there still is not enough room.”
Belcher also said city officials are asking residents to be patient during this time as they know a number of homes on the street have not yet had their tree debris picked up.
“I’m telling citizens the food stamp office is giving help to people. We need to be patient,” she said. “The debris will eventually be picked up.”
Jeff Stallones, owner of the shopping center where the Health and Human Service operates out of said the increase in applicants has had an impact on his other clients in the center such as Curves, a workout facility geared to women, and Weichert Realty, a real estate sales office that is operating out of the former Zebo’s Coffee shop.
“I’m doing everything I can to relieve the parking situation, but tenants have to be able to stay in business,” he said. “I would like to see Health and Human Services temporarily relocate to a better location to handle the increase in food stamp applicants.”
Stollones said he has heard that some of the people who have been waiting in line for hours for assistance only come away with $14.
HHSC has approved more than 130,000 applications for special disaster food stamps since Hurricane Ike arrived on the Texas coast. According to an Oct. 1 press statement issued by the health commission, on average, individuals and families received $226 in food stamps for October. The amounts range from a low of $14 to maximums that vary based on the size of the family.
“When someone comes away with $14, it is like they are standing in line for $3 an hour,” Stallones said.
The new policy applies to low-income households eligible for food stamps in the 29 counties declared federal disaster areas after the hurricane.
“Our offices have been seeing many low-income families who aren’t currently receiving food stamps,” said Albert Hawkins, HHS Executive Commissioner, in the Oct. 1 press statement. “In many cases, these families lost food because of power outages or flooding, and they’re also facing other financial pressures this month. This special disaster supplement will help them feed their families while they continue to rebuild and recover after Hurricane Ike.”
According to HHSC, the amount of food stamps a family receives is based on income and household size. The new policy does not change the maximum benefits allowed for the program, meaning households already approved for the maximum allotment level in October aren’t eligible for additional food stamps. Other food stamp recipients in the 29 counties declared disaster areas will automatically receive higher food stamp allotments this month. This includes household approved for food stamps before the hurricane.
More than 240,000 families are expected to have their food stamp benefits increased in October. The amount of the increase will vary depending on the family’s size and income level.
For example, a family of three with an income of $1,143 will receive $451 in food stamps this month - an increase of $331 over the standard allotment of $120. An individual with income of $870 in October will get $170 - an increase of $156 over the standard allotment of $14.
Stallones said he was told that food stamp recipients do not need to visit the Tomball location or reapply.
According to the HHSC, food stamp recipients will begin receiving the supplements automatically to their Lone Star Cards, a debit card. Hurricane Ike victims seeking benefits for the first time may apply online at www.yourtexasbenefits.com.
Don’t have Internet Access?
Here are some places Hurricane Ike victims may visit to use the Internet to apply online for benefits through the Texas Health and Human Service Commission:
Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library, 30555 Tomball Pkway. Internet and free WiFi access.
Starbucks, 21503 Tomball Pkwy. Free WiFi access in café for customers.
Southwest Texas Coffee Co., 425 W Main St. Free WiFi access in café for customers.
Magnolia Diner, 18423 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Free WiFi access in diner for customers.
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