Increasing Numbers Of Working Poor Access Services Of Area Food Banks

Nearly 40 percent of the people who accessed Spokane County food banks last year were working.

“Three years ago, 17 percent of our clients had jobs,” said Al Brislain, executive director of the Spokane Food Bank. “Last year, that went up to 30 percent and this year it’s 39 percent.

“This is a direct correlation with welfare reform.”

Welfare reform brought massive change. As people migrated from the welfare rolls into low-paying jobs, many also lost their medical benefits and found their food-stamp benefits cut.

“The decrease in food stamp use has been just as dramatic as the increase in working poor.

Sixty-two percent of food bank clients used food stamps four years ago; in 1999, that number dropped to 36 percent.

“Now we see people trying to get by on the minimum wage,” Brislain said. “Some months they can, sometimes they can’t.”

When they can’t they’re likely to end up at the food bank.

These findings are the most dramatic revelations of the food bank’s 13th annual Client Survey, conducted in August, 1999.

There was good news, too. The survey revealed that the food bank system is doing a better job of serving clients.

“The thing we are most proud of is that clients say the emergency food supply they receive now lasts them five days or more,” Brislain said. “About 55 percent of our clients told us that food boxes lasted a week or more. Five years ago, 70 percent told us it lasted four days or less. We have really expanded the amount of food the clients get.”

The number of people who accessed food banks has climbed steadily for the past two years, with numbers increasing by as much as two percent.

“We found that the average client accesses the food bank only 3.5 times per year and that, on average, they only use it for a year or so. It’s a revolving door, just like poverty.”

Volunteers and food-bank staff conducted the survey, querying clients at local pantries. “It’s a requirement of staff,” said Brislain, “because we think it’s important that we understand the people we serve.”

Most board members also participate. “We devote half of a board meeting to people telling their experiences and it’s always very moving. If you want to find out that these people are worthy and deserve the support and are doing their best, you go out and do the survey and it really convinces you. I’ve never heard anyone come back without respect for our clients.”

The survey has helped demolish stereotypes, Brislain said.“We find that most people who use the food bank are white; most have lived here all their lives; and most use it only three or four times a year, when they could use it more.”

It has also helped the food bank develop new programs “We are looking at who our clients are, what their needs are and how we’re fulfilling their needs. Probably the biggest thing in recent years is that it has helped us showthe pantries that their clients want fresh produce.

“We ask them if they’re treated with respect, if it’s adequate food and if it was food they liked. We’re not just trying to find out about them, but to find out how we can do a better job.”