Casi 8,800 alaskeños siguen esperando cupones de comida desde 2022

La División de Asistencia Pública de Alaska dice que ha “reducido a la mitad” el número de personas que sufren retrasos para recibir las ayudas alimentarias a las que tienen derecho. La directora de la división, Deb Etheridge, se siente “muy positiva” por ello. Pero los 8,794 alaskeños que a finales de mayo pasado seguían esperando cupones para comer, y para los que habían aplicado en 2022, no estarán tan “positivos” como ella. Y menos, al saber que mientras ellos esperan el gobernador Dunleavy se sube el sueldo.

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La División de Asistencia Pública dice que, si las solicitudes de todos los que esperan están en el sistema, sólo les queda esperar. Pero hay miles de personas, casi 8,800 (8,794 a finales de mayo), que esperan y esperan, y “desesperan”. Algunas de estas personas llevan así desde agosto de 2022, sin recibir ni un centavo, cuando habían aplicado para ayudas de unos 800 dólares al mes en cupones de comida, los familiarmente llamados SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Hay miles de habitantes de Alaska así, esperando y “desesperando” durante meses, para obtener estos cupones para alimentos. El estado muestra su satisfacción porque ha tramitado “miles de solicitudes atrasadas”; es decir, su satisfacción por reducir el gigantesco retraso que lleva en cumplir con su trabajo. Pero los que aún no tienen los beneficios de alimentos SNAP también son miles.

Estos miles de afectados tuvieron que interponer una demanda colectiva, en mayo de 2022, para que el estado de Alaska se comprometiese a reducir a la mitad la demora, antes de que acabe el próximo mes de octubre. Si el estado no cumple, la demanda continuará su curso.

Con las nuevas solicitudes de las ayudas SNAP, se calcula que se habrán acumulado unas diez mil personas en total. Pero Deb Etheridge insiste en la reducción de la lista a 8,794 personas a finales de mayo pasado y que van “por buen camino”.

El estado ha invertido 6.8 millones de dólares de fondos estatales y federales para contratar personal en la División de Asistencia Pública. Etheridge dice que ya han sido contratados 46 nuevos trabajadores y tiene otros 19 puestos en oferta laboral. Pero, aun así, aún hay veinte contrataciones más pendientes de realizar.

Estas y otras inversiones no parecen suficientes para solventar las graves carencias que sufre Alaska, es decir, las graves carencias que sufren los alaskeños, y no sólo en las ayudas de SNAP, sino también en las de Medicaid y en Educación.

Parece que al estado de Alaska le cuesta encontrar el dinero. Sin embargo, mientras persisten todas estas necesidades, el gobernador sí que ha encontrado la forma de subirse el sueldo. Desde el 1 de julio, Mike Dunleavy cobrará unos 176 mil dólares al año. Y para que todo su equipo esté satisfecho, al vicegobernador se le pagara un salario de unos 140 mil dólares y a los comisionados alrededor de 168 mil, cada año.

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Nearly 8,800 Alaskans are still waiting for food stamps since 2022

The Alaska Division of Public Assistance says it has “cut in half” the number of people experiencing delays in receiving the food assistance they have applied for. The division’s director, Deb Etheridge, feels “very positive” about that. But the 8,794 Alaskans who were still waiting for food stamps as of the end of May, and for which they had applied in 2022, are not be as “positive” as she is. Least of all, knowing that while they wait, Governor Dunleavy’s salary will increase starting July 1.

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The Division of Public Assistance says that, if the applications of all those waiting are in the system, there is only one thing for them to do, “wait.” But there are thousands of peo ple, nearly 8,800 (8,794 at the end of May), who “wait” and “wait,” and “de spair.” Some of these people have been waiting since August 2022, without receiving a penny of the $800 a month in food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) they had applied for.

The state has processed “thousands of backlogged applications” but those who still do not have SNAP food benefits are also in the thousands.

These thousands had to file a class action lawsuit, in May 2022, to get the State of Alaska to commit to halving the backlog by the end of next October. If the State does not comply, the lawsuit will continue.

With new applications for SNAP benefits, an estimated ten thousand people in total will have accumulated. But Deb Etheridge insists the list is down to 8,794 people at the end of last May and that they are “on track.”

The State has invested $6.8 million in state and federal funds to hire staff in the Division of Public Assistance. Etheridge says 46 new workers have already been hired and she has another 19 positions on offer. But even so, 20 more hires are still needed.

These and other investments don’t seem to be enough to address the serious shortfalls that Alaskans suffer, and not just in SNAP benefits, but also in Medicaid, and Education.

It appears that the State of Alaska is having a hard time finding the money. However, while all these needs persist, the governor did find a way to raise his salary. As of July 1, Mike Dunleavy’s salary will increase to $176,000 per year. And to make his entire team happy, the lieutenant governor will receive $140,000 and the commissioners about $168,000 annually.

POR KYLA KOSEDNAR (ELLA/ELLA)