If you're out of work or unable to work in Texas, you can apply for food stamp assistance. But in Texas there are problems -- enough to rank the state last nationally in food assistance. After months of applying without results, Lisa Granshaw thinks she's part of the reason for that ranking.
"I don't have money for food," she said. "I'm struggling right now. I just need some assistance, that's all."
Dr. Bob Sanborn with the group Children at Risk said, "Forty-five percent of those families that are hungry are not getting food stamps. We're not doing the job of getting to those 45 percent of families that are eligible for food stamps."
On Tuesday, advocacy groups and Houston city council members called on the state to streamline applications. The money for food has already been allocated by the federal government. The state approves the food stamp applications. But the logjam is also said to be costing the economy.
"In Texas, this slowdown, all of the factors combined, are resulting in a net loss to the state of about one billion dollars in food purchasing power," said Brian Greene with the Houston Food Bank.
The state has hired more case workers and staff, but they face a huge backlog and packed offices of families who need help. Now a chorus of local leaders is joining in the call for improvement.
"Bottom line, other states are doing better. Texas needs to do better as well," said one leader.
