(The Center Square) – With the state now home to the seventh highest share of resident using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford is urging lawmakers to do more to aid the growing number of people struggling to make ends meet.
In all, federal government data shows nearly two million residents, or one out of every seven individuals, are now reported to be receiving federal food assistance, leaving the state with 237,383 more SNAP recipients than before the pandemic.
With people struggling the way they are inflation now being what it is, Ford argues its incumbent on the government to step in.
“We saw that people after the pandemic when people reset back to their eligibility levels it really hurt families,” Ford told The Center Square. “Now, we’re back down in support and it’s not enough with the cost of food going higher. I think with the federal government there should be a major push to increase the benefits for individuals on SNAP so that they’re able to live with dignity and the strength to go fight for a job.”