The US Census Bureau released a report late last week regarding the number and percentage of households in each state who received food stamps in 2009 and 2010.  Wisconsin’s participation rate of 11.0 percent last year was well below the national rate of 11.9 percent.  However, Wisconsin has been rapidly gaining ground on the national average.  From 2009 to 2010, the number of Wisconsinites receiving food stamps grew by 30.1 percent, which was the 6th highest percentage increase and compares to average growth last year of 16.2 percent nationally. 

The rapid growth in Wisconsin reflects several different factors.  First, it’s part of the national trend of increasing poverty rates.  Second, it results in part from the fact that Wisconsin’s poverty rate has been growing slightly faster than the national average.  Finally, Wisconsin has improved food stamp enrollment processes and for several years our participation rate has been gaining ground on the national average.

Jon Peacock