The number of families where there are working head(s) of household who are still below poverty level has gone up. These people work--often at low hours and decidedly for low wages. They can just about afford to feed their families, or keep a roof over their heads. Many share homes intergenerationally--grandparents, children, grandchildren in one home. These would be the working people who sign up for and use food stamps. Many if not most are in customer service jobs. Some of them take care of our older citizens as home health aides.
When some elected officials run down people who are low-income, use food stamps, and are poor, they are often actually talking about the working poor. These people work hard at jobs that often are physically-demanding, in harsh conditions, with the constant fear of losing their positions. Many have seasonal employment open to them, like landscaping or farm work, but that work is not consistent. There is constant anxiety about making ends meet.
They deserve better than insults from elected officials and think tank talking heads, or talking heads that used to be elected officials.
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