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Slipping Fast

By Dylan Bennett BESIDES the hundreds of drug and alcohol addicts, the safety net has disappeared for thousands of other people in Sonoma County who are losing benefits in the wake of recent changes in federal welfare law. Judy McMaster, an analyst with the Sonoma County Human Services Department, says 1,600 legal immigrants are losing eligibility for food stamps and Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Another 5,400 AFDC recipients need to find work, anywhere from 20 to 32 hours per week, to remain eligible for food stamps. About 750 local residents already have been cut from the federal food stamp program. Meanwhile, 705 elderly and disabled legal immigrants on SSI and another 190 people receiving In-Home Support Services have had their benefits extended through September. [ Sonoma County Independent | MetroActive Central | Archives ]