In the News

Washington’s food-stamp program has helped thousands find jobs and get off public assistance through a federally funded employment-training program. A bill in the U.S. House calls for replicating that program nationally.

Dede O’Loughlin’s mother dropped out of high school and got by on food stamps. Then O’Loughlin herself became that mother to her three sons.

O’Loughlin, a 40-year-old single parent from North Seattle, wanted to break the pattern for her children. And thanks to that very food-stamp program, she likely will.

O’Loughlin is among thousands of Washington residents who, since 2005, have gone from collecting public assistance to collecting paychecks — a switch footed by taxpayers. She took advantage of help offered by Basic Food, the state’s food-stamp program, to target a career and train for it.

For O’Loughlin, that job was as family-service coordinator at Seattle Children’s, a position that pays roughly double the minimum wage.

Now Congress may replicate the state’s Basic Food Employment & Training program elsewhere around the nation. A five-year farm bill awaiting a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives includes a provision written by Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina, for a three-year, $30 million pilot effort to “reduce dependency and increase work effort.”

Read the full article HERE.