SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- The city has seen a sharp increase in the number of people applying for food stamps and other social assistance programs since last year, including many who have never before applied for welfare.
Some 24,000 San Franciscans now receive food stamps, a jump of 46 percent from last year. And the number of families applying for aid under the CalWORKs Program jumped 15 percent.
This is largely driven by the economic factors going on in our communities—joblessness, family unemployment and really needing to stretch the dollar,” said Trent Rhorer, the director of San Francisco’s Department of Human Services.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor reports
Rhorer said the welfare population has shifted dramatically, with many single adults going on his roll for the first time. Applications by single adult males hit an all-time record in March.
Ironically the city is trying to get back social workers and other staff at the agency to help ease the deficit even as it tries to grow programs like Healthy San Francisco.
(jro)
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