ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
Angel Food Ministries (AFM) is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing financial support in the form of food relief to communities throughout the United States. Established in 1994 to provide relief for struggling families in the Monroe, GA area, Angel Food Ministries today serves hundreds of thousands of families across now 40 states, having added Arizona in March 2009. Since inception, AFM has fed more than 20 million Americans. In 2008, they provided $140 million in direct food assistance to American families.
AFM offers a medium-sized box of food for $30 that contains top quality food staples from every food group, including chicken or beef, milk, eggs, vegetables, and other nutritious items. One box of food feeds a family of four for about one week, or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The menu varies each month, and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60.
Everyone qualifies; there are no applications or qualifications necessary to order Angel Food. There are host sites available in Clermont, Hamilton and Brown Counties. You can locate a host site near you and view the monthly menu at the AFM web site, www.angelfoodministries.com . AFM also accepts orders using Food Assistance Benefits.
Food Stamp Benefits Increase in April
On April 1, 2009 a key element of the federal economic stimulus began with an increase in food stamp benefits (now known as the Food Assistance Program), helping struggling families and individuals receive nutritional assistance. The increase in benefits equates to an increase of 13.6 percent, or roughly $20 - $24 per person per month for most families. Between December 2007 and December 2008, food assistance enrollment nationally increased by more than 4 million individuals. Ohio witnessed a 12 percent increase during that time frame and caseloads are growing at an ever faster rate in early 2009.
There are currently over one-and-a-quarter million Ohioans depending on the Food Assistance program with record number of applicants coming through the county doors each month. Over $1.25 billion in Food Assistance benefits are issued each year in Ohio and if the current trend continues, and with the increase in benefits from the federal stimulus bill, Ohio may see benefit issuance exceed $2 billion a year by the end of the next biennium.
As more Ohioans are out of work and for longer periods of time, programs such as Food Assistance have become a critical support. Not only do these benefits provide nutritional assistance, they also free up limited resources in the household to help pay for shelter and transportation costs and help stabilize the family.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also provides some additional funding to cover costs associated with the increase in Food Assistance recipients. Ohio expects to receive $11.2 million over the next two years to assist in this endeavor. The Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association is working with the ODJFS administration and General Assembly to secure these funds to assist clients at the local level. While county departments of job and family services are experiencing unprecedented cuts and record caseload growth, any and all funds are appreciated and welcomed news to counties.
Update on Ohio Unemployment Rate
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has issued unemployment figures for Ohio for the month of February, 2009; the current rate of unemployment is 9.4 percent, up from 8.8 percent in January 2009. According to the data, Ohio's non-farm wage and salary employment decreased by 7,600 over the month from 5,208,000 in January to 5,200,400 in February. The percentage of Clermont County unemployed workers is now at 9.7 percent.
Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted)
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in July, up from 6.6 percent in June. Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 11,600 over the month, from 5,419,900 in June, to 5,408,300 in July.
“Ohio’s labor market continued to show weakness in July, “ODJFS Director Helen Jones-Kelley said. “Total employment decreased in both goods-producing and service-providing industries and the unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent.”
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 430,000, up from 394,000 in June. The number of unemployed has increased by 96,000 in the past 12 months from 334,000. The July unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.6 percent in July 2007.
The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent in June.
Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association Weekly Update August 15, 2008
July, 2008
2008 Changes to Child Care Eligibility Standards
Effective 7/1/08
Maximum Monthly Gross Income Per Family Size
Family Size Child Care and ELI
2 $2,334 3 $2.934 4 $3,534 5 $4,134 6 $4,734 7 $5,334 8 $5,934 9 $6,534 10 $7,134 11 $7,734 12 $8,334
These standards are equal to 200% of the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines as published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2008.To apply call (513) 732-7483
March, 2008
Consumer Credit Counseling now available in Clermont County!
The increasing number of home foreclosures has been a growing national problem for the past several years. There were 988 foreclosures in Clermont County in 2006, according to a study done by the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, and an estimate of over 1000 in 2007. As a result of efforts by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, PNC Bank, Spirit of America National Bank and Huntington National Bank, pre-foreclosure counseling is now available in Clermont County. The Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati will now provide this counseling to Clermont County Citizens. The number to contact is 513-721-6855.
One of the primary causes of home foreclosures is that consumers wait until they receive a foreclosure notice to begin working with their lender or contacting an organization for counseling assistance. At this point, it is generally too late to prevent the foreclosure. Consumers need to address the problem as soon as they realize they are unable to pay their mortgage obligation. A counselor from the Better Housing League may be able to maneuver through situations with lenders that the average consumer cannot.
One of the goals of the Better Housing League and partnering agencies in Clermont County is it educate the general public on how to avoid foreclosures through consumer counseling and encouraging consumers to get good, sound financial advice before getting a home loan.
The counseling service of the Better Housing League will be a valuable asset to home owners at risk of foreclosure in Clermont County. The challenge is to get consumers to make that call early in the process. Funding for this program is currently only available from 03/08 through 12/08. Continued funding will be contingent upon the number of Clermont County consumers who access their services.
Contact the Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati: 513-721-6855. A counselor is there to answer all your questions and provide direct services in preventing home foreclosures for the citizens of Clermont County.
March, 2008
Economic Stimulus Payments
Economic stimulus payments will soon be issued by the federal government and individuals served by the county departments of job and family services may benefit significantly from these payments. In order to receive a payment, individuals must file a 2007 federal income tax return.
The payments will begin this May from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which will be utilizing 2007 federal tax return information to determine eligibility and calculate the one-time disbursement. Over 130 million individuals are expected to receive an economic stimulus payment.
Most individuals we serve through the county JFS and who had earnings in 2007 are eligible if their tax return reflects a minimum $3000 in qualified income. For purposes of the economic stimulus payments, qualifying income consists of earned income such as wages and net self-employment income as will as Social Security or certain Railroad Retirement benefits and veterans' disability compensation, pension or survivors' benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income.
Additional information can be found @ www.irs.gov