Milwaukee: Food Stamps for Flood Victims

Another flood in Milwaukee, another food stamp stampede.

Actually, the 2010 version of food assistance for FLOOD VICTIMS was much more orderly than the 2008 situation.

Then, it was a free-for-all in every sense of the term, drawing thousands of people, resulting in a dangerous and chaotic scene.

The chaos that erupted outside Milwaukee County's main welfare office Monday over disaster-related food aid had more to do with a weak economy and crushing poverty in parts of this community than the devastating floods that swept through the state earlier this month, local government and food relief officials said.

About 3,000 people turned out for the assistance beginning at 3 a.m. Monday, creating a line that stretched several blocks around the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center at 1220 W. Vliet St. At least one woman said she was trampled when a crowd rushed the doors as they opened around 7:30 a.m., and dozens of Milwaukee police officers and sheriff's deputies were called to quell the scene.

"The food crisis in Milwaukee and throughout the United States is worse than many of us have realized," said Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines, who with other elected officials called on the community to support local food pantries.

"We expect long lines for free food in Third World countries," Hines said. "We don't expect a line of 2,500 people waiting for food vouchers" in Milwaukee. No one was seriously injured, and there were no arrests Monday, but those in line described the scene as chaotic. Many thought they would receive vouchers immediately, and frustration mounted when some learned that was not the case.

"They just went crazy down there, just totally crazy," said Charline Britt of Milwaukee, who said she was trampled when about 200 people surged forward as the doors opened.

"They kicked me in my back, stepped over my shoes," said Britt, who'd come to the center about 4:30 a.m. because her basement flooded in the recent rains.

"I fainted when I got through the door."

In 2008, people showed up for what they believed was a hand-out, free food. The "gimme" mentality and the subsequent unruliness were on display. Police were needed to control the mob. People feared for their lives.

In 2010, the scene was dramatically different. Supposedly, an effort is being made to verify that the people applying for benefits did, in fact, lose food in the flood. And this time, there was no expectation that people would receive benefits immediately.

From WISN:

Hundreds stood in a line that wrapped around the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center Monday morning.

The Milwaukee residents came because of the damage caused by Thursday's hard and heavy rain.

...Everyone in line is a current FoodShare member. They waited outside, almost two hours before offices opened to get replacement benefits for food destroyed by the storm.

Milwaukee Police and officers with the sheriff's department were also on hand directing traffic and controlling the crowds.

The Director of Milwaukee Enrollment Services for the state said officials had planned for the large turnout.

"We've actually started working on this about midnight Thursday, understanding that this could happen," said Ed Kamin. "We've had people mobilized here in Milwaukee and in Madison working on this over the weekend."

Obviously, steps were taken to prevent the near riot that occurred in 2008. Milwaukee police and the sheriff's department were there controlling the crowd.

This time, only people already getting food stamps were eligible to apply. This is about replacement benefits for food losses due to the storm.

..."There's no guarantee that you're going to get benefits either because it's a replacement benefit on what you lost due to the flooding," said Kamin.

Due to the volume, Kamin said it could take 10 days before the loss is verified.

A thorough verification process is impossible. Government employees would have to go door-to-door and investigate to find out if people actually lost food due to the flood. That's definitely not going to happen.

Bottom line: Some people genuinely need assistance. Others are committing fraud and need to get a conscience.

Some people are truly hurting. Others are just jerks.

What I don't understand is why there isn't better communication. There was no need for people to stand in line at all.

There's also no need to stand in line. FoodShares members should call 888-947-6583 or visit https://access.wisconsin.gov/.

Why spend hours standing in line when it's totally unnecessary?