Food stamp recipients growing in Illinois

Congress will continue debate this week on whether food stamp recipients should face more-strict eligibility requirements in order to receive them. And with that comes word that the number of Illinois residents relying on the federal government to supplement their food pantries has grown nearly 35 percent in three years.

Two million Illinoisans received food stamps in August while another 40,000 applications were waiting to be processed.

So while the unemployment rate begins its slow but steady descent, more and more Americans appear unable to meet the basic needs of their families.

A national report released by "The Working Poor Families Project" indicates that nearly one third of families are now low income. And it estimates that 50 million people might soon become part of a growing demographic, called 'the working poor.'

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