Friday, August 15, 2008

Barstow ranks # 1 in County-Public Assistance

Barstow ranks No. 1 in county for aid Nearly 40 percent of residents receive some sort of assistance August 15, 2008 - 3:56PM By Aaron Aupperlee, city editor BARSTOW — It is a number one ranking that Barstow might not be too proud of. Barstow ranked top in San Bernardino County for the percentage of people receiving aid in 2007, according to report released by the county’s Department of Human Services. Between cash aid, Medi-Cal and food stamps, San Bernardino County’s 24 cities and vast unincorporated area received more than $1.75 billion in aid. Barstow’s share was about $51 million. Fort Irwin and the towns of Hinkley, Yermo and Newberry Springs receive $578,451 in cash, Medi-Cal and food stamp aid in 2007, the report stated. Barstow has traditionally been high on the county’s aid list. Peggy Teal, the executive director of the Mojave United Way, said that Barstow’s low housing costs probably bring people to the city who depend on aid. Also, she said, that the recent economic slowdown and rising prices may account for the increase in aid to Barstow. People who live on a fixed income that at one point did not depend on aid now might with high gas and food prices. “It’s a snowball effect,” Teal said. “Everything starts increasing.” The number of people receiving aid in Barstow jumped by nearly 250 from January 2007 to January 2008. Aid across the county increased during 2007. The report stated that food stamps increased by 17.7 percent, Medi-Cal aid by 3.8 percent and CalWORKS aid by 13.6 percent. The CalWORKS, a program that provides financial and employment assistance to low-income families, increase was the first increase in aid in 13 years, the report stated. Oscar Ramirez, a spokesman for the state Department of Social Services, said the state attributes the increase in CalWORKS aid to the struggling economy. For food stamps, however, the economy is not the only cause of the increase of aid. He said that since 2006, the state has focused on getting more aid into more people’s pockets who qualify. “We’re trying to find a better way to get people access to the services they are entitled to,” he said. How Barstow compares to the High Desert Percentage of people on aid Barstow 38.1 percent Adelanto 33.6 percent Victorville 23.3 percent Hesperia 21.6 percent Apple Valley 18.9 percent Percentage of people on food stamps Barstow 21.5 percent Adelanto 18.1 percent Victorville 11.8 percent Hesperia 9.9 percent Apple Valley 9.7 percent Percentage of people on cash aid Barstow 12.4 percent Adelanto 11.1 percent Hesperia 5.9 percent Apple Valley 5.4 percent Victorville 1.9 percent
New Hope Village shouldn't get house
Congratulations to Messrs. Gomez and Curran on their stand for not leasing out city property for 50 years for $1 to more people who cannot afford housing. The low-cost housing, section 8 housing and developers who build apartment buildings which they later rent out under section 8 guideline has ruined our city. Note the unemployment figures, crime rate and full-time grocery cart pick-up service by Burrtec, which property owners pay for, and I agree with the dissenting council members. I am a resident taxpayer over 50 years in Barstow, with a home, rentals and other property and believe the city should give the taxpaying residents who live here a break and take care of our own. This city has become a dumping place for many undesirables. There are few good-paying jobs available in Barstow (over $20/hr) that will support a family. A person receiving section 8 housing or welfare aid would be a fool to work for less. John E. Reeck Barstow

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