Food stamps in wider use

WINSTED — Statistics recently released by the state Department of Social Services reveal a major increase in residents using food stamps from 2007 to 2010.Statewide, food stamp usage has grown from 195,090 residents in fiscal 2007 to 298,856 residents in 2010.In Winsted, the number has grown from 576 residents in 2007 to 1,083 residents in 2010, an 88 percent increase. Approximately 9.34 percent of Winsted’s estimated 11,600 residents are on food stamps.Mayor Candy Perez said that the increase in the food stamp usage makes sense because Winsted has a lot more affordable housing residential units than surrounding towns.“We are also impacted by economic issues facing the state and the country,” Perez said. “Between the affordable housing units in town and the way the economy has fallen apart, it only makes sense that food stamp usage is on the rise.”Town Manager Dale Martin agreed with Perez that both state and national economic issues are a main reason for higher food stamp usage.“It’s indicative of the economic times we are in,” Martin said. “Winsted residents are facing challenges right now. I think the solution is probably bigger than Winsted itself. If I had an answer to it, I would be on the president’s economic team. When it comes to the national economy, we are the tip of the tail and we are being wagged all over the place because we’re subject to the whims and policies being made at the national and state level.”Smaller towns surrounding Winsted have also seen an increase in food stamp usage.In New Hartford, food stamp usage has grown by 120 percent from 46 residents in 2007 to 101 residents in 2010.In Colebrook, food stamp usage has grown by 90 percent from 10 residents in 2007 to 19 residents in 2010.In Barkhamsted, food stamp usage has grown by 252 percent from 25 residents in 2007 to 88 residents in 2010.In Norfolk, food stamp usage has grown by 111 percent from 18 residents in 2007 to 38 residents in 2010.