KANSAS CITY, Mo. – President Donald Trump and others want to make it mandatory for food stamp recipients to have a job to receive benefits.
When it comes to the number of people in the Kansas City area who rely on food stamps, the numbers may shock you.
“Loss of job, a few businesses closed down,” said Arvin Farrow.
“I have severe PTSD, which makes it very hard for me to work,” said Krystal Scaliatine.
“I am not working right now but I do odd jobs. I go to temp services and work,” said Virgil Sloan.
The change would be connected to the new Farm Bill, which Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass. The Farm Bill is to provide resources for farmers in an uncertain economy. The bill also could impact the SNAP Program, better known as food stamps.
“We are very close to the finish line but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts to a conference committee in Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning.
We dove into the numbers to show you how many people in the area could be affected. In Wyandotte County, one in every six people are on food stamps. In Johnson County, its one in every 32 people.
In Missouri, Jackson County has one in seven people on food stamps.
This is Sen. Roberts eighth farm bill since taking office. He is the chair of the conference committee.
"We can find ways to add tools to states, nonprofits and employers to get people back to work again," said Roberts.
Arvin Farrow has been on and off food stamps for 10 years. He doesn't think it should be a mandate, to have a job, to receive benefits.
“I don’t just sit at home. Actually, I just got a new job. Thank God for blessing me,” said Farrow.
He said everyone is not as fortunate as him.
The Congressional Budget Office said the change would save the government $20 billion in 10 years.
“Without this program a lot of people will be worse, trying to feed their kids, its hard,” said Farrow.
