Poor families can't afford more cuts in programs and services

Over the past 10 years, Ohio has slashed the budgets of programs to help poor people numerous times. State leaders have slowly but surely picked apart the programs and services that were intended to help poor families meet their basic needs and give them the opportunity to overcome their circumstances. Now, Ohio leaders are looking at more budget cuts in 2011, and poor families simply cannot afford any more cuts in programs or services. Click here to read more about the cuts in the last 10 years and why state leaders need to protect poor families in the next budget

Volunteers needed

The Athens County Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center at The Work Station in The Plains is looking for volunteers to work during tax season. The center offers free assistance to Athens County residents who are filing basic tax returns. Volunteers are needed to assist with the tax returns, answer phone calls, schedule appointments and greet visitors. Click here for more information on volunteering for this valuable program.

No increase in Social Security benefits means no increase in Ohio Works First cash assistance benefits

The fact that Social Security benefits are not increasing for the second straight year means that cash assistance benefits for Ohio’s poorest citizens are also staying the same for the second straight year. This is despite the fact that the cost of living is increasing in the state and the Ohio Works First benefits already do not provide enough funding to get a family up to even half of the federal poverty level. For more information, click here.

More and more people do not have enough money to buy the food they need

A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that more than 17.4 million families in America, or 51 million people, were "food insecure" in 2009. In Ohio, nearly 680,000 families, or 14.8% of all families in the state, were food insecure in 2009, according to the report.

The report also explains that number of people in Ohio and all across the country who do not have enough food to eat has increased significantly in recent years.

Click here to read an article from The Washington Post about the report.

Click here to read an article from The Columbus Dispatch about the report, including detailed information about what the report says about food insecurity in Ohio.

Annual Report shows increasing demand for public assistance programs

The Athens County Job and Family Services 2009-2010 Annual Report details how the demand for public assistance has increased in Athens County in the last year, and in the last five years. The report also provides information on Athens County, our agency and the many different programs we run to help Athens County residents. Click here to read our Annual Report.