Food Stamp Facts

• Twelve percent of Michigan residents (more than one in nine) receive DHS food assistance.
• Eighty percent of DHS food assistance funds are received by households with children.
• The number of food assistance recipients in Michigan has doubled in the last six years.
• The number of food assistance recipients in Ottawa County increased by 6% between September 2006 and September 2007.
• The average amount received by food assistance recipients is $88.00 per month.
• The USDA expects households receiving food assistance to be able to feed each member with approximately $3.00 per day (using a combination of food assistance funds and other resources).

For more information about Food Stamps/Food Assistance in Michigan, please visit the Michigan Food Stamp Partnership at http://www.foodstamphelp.org/ .

(Mark Kornelis)