Patrick Announces Steps to Save SNAP Benefits for 163K Mass Homes
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
GoLocalProv News Team
Governor Deval Patrick announced Tuesday steps to preserve Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for approximately 163,000 households in Massachusetts -- and avoid the loss of approximately $142 million in SNAP benefits set to be cut under the recently enacted federal Farm Bill.
"Government's role is to help people help themselves, and these steps are necessary to help our most vulnerable residents and families meet their most basic needs," said Governor Patrick.
Eating and heating
Under the plan, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) will partner with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to provide at least $20 in heating assistance to eligible families through the H-EAT program, which makes them eligible for an increase of $80 in monthly SNAP benefits to help families pay for food. DHCD will invest approximately $3 million to support the continuation of the program and leverage the additional SNAP benefits for these families.
The investment will also help maintain economic stability for families and businesses in Massachusetts, as each SNAP dollar spent generates approximately $2 in economic activity for the state, according to the USDA.
"I'm so proud of Governor Patrick and his Administration for stepping up and providing these resources to help some of our most vulnerable neighbors," said Congressman Jim McGovern. "Despite what Speaker Boehner said last week (ironically, on the same day he invited Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress), this effort is not 'fraud' or 'cheating' -- it's an effort by states like Massachusetts to provide food to hungry families."
“This program continues to be a valuable resource for residents across the Commonwealth,” said Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development. “As the Administrator of the LIHEAP program, DHCD is pleased to join our sister agency in preventing cuts to the food stamp benefits that our neediest families have been receiving.
Defraying heating costs
The heating assistance, known as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is federal assistance provided to the state to help low-income families defray heating costs.
“Reversing the cuts from the Farm Bill is a major step in helping Massachusetts families work toward economic stability,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz. “Any cut in benefit, no matter the size, has a real impact on low-income families, and this funding supports a program that makes a difference every day.”
Related Slideshow: Central MA Unemployment Rates #72 - #1
Here are the unemployment statistics for each town in Central Mass, ranked from least to most-
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#72
Harvard
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 4.4%
Unemployed: 140
Employed: 3,059
Total workforce: 3,199
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#71
Hopkinton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 4.7%
Unemployed: 369
Employed: 7,523
Total workforce: 7,892
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#69 (Tie)
Berlin
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 4.9%
Unemployed: 79
Employed: 1,520
Total workforce: 1,599
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#69 (Tie)
Hopedale
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 4.9%
Unemployed: 159
Employed: 3,074
Total workforce: 3,233
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#67 (Tie)
Bolton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.1%
Unemployed: 147
Employed: 2,733
Total workforce: 2,880
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#67 (Tie)
Southborough
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.1%
Unemployed: 257
Employed: 4,813
Total workforce: 5,070
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#66
Marlborough
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.5%
Unemployed: 1,283
Employed: 21,909
Total workforce: 23,192
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#65
Northborough
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.6%
Unemployed: 432
Employed: 7,259
Total workforce: 7,691
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#62 (Tie)
Mendon
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.7%
Unemployed: 196
Employed: 3,218
Total workforce: 3,414
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#62 (Tie)
Princeton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.7%
Unemployed: 107
Employed: 1,764
Total workforce: 1,871
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#62 (Tie)
Topsfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.7%
Unemployed: 176
Employed: 2,910
Total workforce: 3,086
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#61
Boylston
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.8%
Unemployed: 134
Employed: 2,167
Total workforce: 2,301
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#58 (Tie)
Shrewsbury
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.9%
Unemployed: 1,084
Employed: 17,152
Total workforce: 18,236
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#58 (Tie)
Sterling
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.9%
Unemployed: 256
Employed: 4,112
Total workforce: 4,368
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#58 (Tie)
Westborough
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 5.9%
Unemployed: 525
Employed: 8,415
Total workforce: 8,940
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#56 (Tie)
Sturbridge
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.0%
Unemployed: 306
Employed: 4,763
Total workforce: 5,069
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#56 (Tie)
Upton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.0%
Unemployed: 241
Employed: 3,752
Total workforce: 3,993
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#53 (Tie)
Douglas
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.1%
Unemployed: 290
Employed: 4,469
Total workforce: 4,759
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#53 (Tie)
Hudson
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.1%
Unemployed: 696
Employed: 10,740
Total workforce: 11,436
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#53 (Tie)
Milford
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.1%
Unemployed: 954
Employed: 14,670
Total workforce: 15,624
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#51 (Tie)
Oakham
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.3%
Unemployed: 65
Employed: 973
Total workforce: 1,038
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#51 (Tie)
Sutton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.3%
Unemployed: 302
Employed: 4,500
Total workforce: 4,802
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#48 (Tie)
Holden
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.4%
Unemployed: 576
Employed: 8,430
Total workforce: 9,006
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#48 (Tie)
Paxton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.4%
Unemployed: 158
Employed: 2,327
Total workforce: 2,485
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#48 (Tie)
Shirley
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.4%
Unemployed: 223
Employed: 3,269
Total workforce: 3,492
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#46 (Tie)
Ayer
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.5%
Unemployed: 283
Employed: 4,100
Total workforce: 4,383
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#46 (Tie)
Hardwick
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.5%
Unemployed: 94
Employed: 1,359
Total workforce: 1,453
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#45
Grafton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.6%
Unemployed: 635
Employed: 9,043
Total workforce: 9,678
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#42 (Tie)
Hubbardston
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.7%
Unemployed: 163
Employed: 2,255
Total workforce: 2,418
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#42 (Tie)
Millbury
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.7%
Unemployed: 489
Employed: 6,787
Total workforce: 7,276
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#42 (Tie)
Petersham
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.7%
Unemployed: 43
Employed: 596
Total workforce: 639
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#40 (Tie)
Lancaster
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.8%
Unemployed: 240
Employed: 3,281
Total workforce: 3,521
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#40 (Tie)
Townsend
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 6.8%
Unemployed: 346
Employed: 4,738
Total workforce: 5,084
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#38 (Tie)
Charlton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.0%
Unemployed: 491
Employed: 6,483
Total workforce: 6,974
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#38 (Tie)
Dudley
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.0%
Unemployed: 431
Employed: 5,696
Total workforce: 6,127
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#33 (Tie)
Auburn
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.1%
Unemployed: 613
Employed: 8,024
Total workforce: 8,637
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#33 (Tie)
East Brookfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.1%
Unemployed: 86
Employed: 1,129
Total workforce: 1,215
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#33 (Tie)
Holland
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.1%
Unemployed: 99
Employed: 1,291
Total workforce: 1,390
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#33 (Tie)
New Braintree
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.1%
Unemployed: 40
Employed: 524
Total workforce: 564
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#33 (Tie)
Rutland
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.1%
Unemployed: 313
Employed: 4,081
Total workforce: 4,394
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#32
Oxford
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.2%
Unemployed: 548
Employed: 7,032
Total workforce: 7,580
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#31
Uxbridge
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.3%
Unemployed: 536
Employed: 6,784
Total workforce: 7,320
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#30
Leicester
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.5%
Unemployed: 450
Employed: 5,565
Total workforce: 6,015
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#27 (Tie)
Ashburnham
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.6%
Unemployed: 236
Employed: 2,865
Total workforce: 3,101
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#27 (Tie)
Lunenburg
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.6%
Unemployed: 398
Employed: 4,850
Total workforce: 5,248
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#27 (Tie)
Northbridge
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.6%
Unemployed: 608
Employed: 7,383
Total workforce: 7,991
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#26
Spencer
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.7%
Unemployed: 492
Employed: 5,935
Total workforce: 6,427
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#24 (Tie)
Ware
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.9%
Unemployed: 394
Employed: 4,611
Total workforce: 5,005
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#24 (Tie)
West Boylston
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.9%
Unemployed: 259
Employed: 3,035
Total workforce: 3,294
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#21 (Tie)
Brimfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.0%
Unemployed: 152
Employed: 1,745
Total workforce: 1,897
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#21 (Tie)
Templeton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.0%
Unemployed: 305
Employed: 3,520
Total workforce: 3,825
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#21 (Tie)
Westminster
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.0%
Unemployed: 297
Employed: 3,417
Total workforce: 3,714
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#19 (Tie)
North Brookfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.1%
Unemployed: 195
Employed: 2,224
Total workforce: 2,419
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#19 (Tie)
Palmer
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.1%
Unemployed: 508
Employed: 5,772
Total workforce: 6,280
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#18
Warren
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.4%
Unemployed: 209
Employed: 2,271
Total workforce: 2,480
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#17
West Brookfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.6%
Unemployed: 155
Employed: 1,652
Total workforce: 1,807
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#15 (Tie)
Royalston
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.7%
Unemployed: 52
Employed: 547
Total workforce: 599
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#15 (Tie)
Webster
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.7%
Unemployed: 723
Employed: 7,569
Total workforce: 8,292
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#13 (Tie)
Brookfield
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.8%
Unemployed: 163
Employed: 1,695
Total workforce: 1,858
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#13 (Tie)
Millville
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.8%
Unemployed: 158
Employed: 1,642
Total workforce: 1,800
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#11 (Tie)
Barre
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.9%
Unemployed: 244
Employed: 2,510
Total workforce: 2,754
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#11 (Tie)
Worcester
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 8.9%
Unemployed: 7,562
Employed: 77,653
Total workforce: 85,215
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#9 (Tie)
Ashby
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.0%
Unemployed: 149
Employed: 1,503
Total workforce: 1,652
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#9 (Tie)
Orange
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.0%
Unemployed: 332
Employed: 3,356
Total workforce: 3,688
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#7 (Tie)
Blackstone
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.2%
Unemployed: 488
Employed: 4,824
Total workforce: 5,312
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#7 (Tie)
Clinton
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.2%
Unemployed: 676
Employed: 6,652
Total workforce: 7,328
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#6
Winchendon
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.3%
Unemployed: 453
Employed: 4,407
Total workforce: 4,860
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#5
Leominster
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.6%
Unemployed: 1,937
Employed: 18,141
Total workforce: 20,078
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#3 (Tie)
Southbridge
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.9%
Unemployed: 787
Employed: 7,127
Total workforce: 7,914
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#3 (Tie)
Gardner
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 9.9%
Unemployed: 934
Employed: 8,514
Total workforce: 9,448
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#2
Fitchburg
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 10.0%
Unemployed: 1,829
Employed: 16,435
Total workforce: 7,914
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#1
Athol
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 10.5%
Unemployed: 543
Employed: 4,647
Total workforce: 5,190
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