Why Are More People Than Ever Receiving Food Stamps In Hawaii? … A historically high enrollment in the food stamp program is part of a broader increase in the need for public services during the pandemic.
More than 200,000 people are receiving food stamps in Hawaii, a historic high, and the program has grown steadily each month this year despite a recent decline in the unemployment rate.
It’s a reflection of how food insecurity continues to be a problem in Hawaii as the pandemic drags on, advocates say.
Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program grew as the spread of the coronavirus caused unemployment to spike and family incomes to plunge. The state also made it easier to enroll by allowing people to apply online and suspending six-month eligibility reviews.
