In Guilford County, nearly one out of every five residents currently relies on food stamps to put food on their table. Nationwide, food stamp usage has grown by an alarming 70 percent since 2008. There is no indication that this trend is slowing, so this places a heavy burden on aid recipients, taxpayers, and politicians alike.

The official title of the United States’ food stamp program is now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The program had to be renamed because of the negative connotation associated with the phrase “food stamps.” SNAP works by providing monthly benefits to Americans who live below the poverty line.

A variety of factors contribute to the sharp rise in the demand for government assistance. A high unemployment rate, coupled with the current double-dip recession, and the soaring price of food are several causes that have forced many families to turn to the federal government for relief.

Most people blame joblessness as the main reason for the food stamp reliance, and many turn belligerent at the idea of welfare given to those who, in their minds, are not contributing to society.

However, this viewpoint is outdated and ill-informed. Upwards of 40 percent of food stamp recipients live in households where at least one family member holds a job. Additionally, the current economy does not provide enough jobs for American workers and many SNAP recipients make searching for employment their job.

It is not fair to fault those on food stamps and label them “lazy” and “freeloaders.” If a person can still be living below the poverty line while working full time, this shows that the burden lies with the financial and economic system — not the individual.

A person working 40 hours a week at minimum wage in North Carolina would only earn approximately 1,200 a month. As of Aug. 2011, the average apartment rent within 10 miles of Greensboro, NC stood at 700. The remaining monthly income would amount to 125 each week. This money must then be allocated among bills for such things as transportation, clothing, insurance, and most importantly, food.

The maximum amount given to a North Carolinian recipient who has no dependants is 200 a month.

With presidential candidates gearing up for debates, and Charlotte hosting the Democratic National Convention in the summer of 2012, politicians are beginning to focus more of their attention on local issues surrounding poverty and government aid, particularly in North Carolina. Food stamps will be an important topic on the presidential agenda, especially with the recent demand for cuts in the budget’s deficit. The current cost to taxpayers is over $68 billion.

This is completely unsustainable, considering it will only go up from here.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in applicants,” said Goioa Garrett, manager of Guilford County’s food and nutrition program. “We currently have 42,899 households receiving benefits. A year ago, this number was 36,000.”

The cost of this increase is substantial.

“We have gone from 10.1 million a month in benefits last year to 11.6 million a month this year for Guilford County,” Garrett said.

The state of North Carolina, which is tied with New Jersey, has experienced the second highest jump in participation throughout the country this past year. Only Alabama has a higher rate, and they saw a 100 percent increase in SNAP recipients in the span of one month alone, according to the Department of Agriculture.

This dramatic spike in SNAP recipients in Alabama occurred after a string of deadly tornadoes wreaked havoc in April, costing states billions of dollars for repair. Hurricane Irene, similarly, is sure to have a significant impact on the number of Americans who get food stamps.

In the wake of natural disasters, it is understandable for the government to lend a hand, but this raises an issue: disasters are occurring with higher frequency and with greater magnitude. At what point will the government have to turn applicants away?

If the demand for food stamps continues to increase at the same pace, it will not take long for SNAP to become a household name.

With the spotlight currently on our national debt and the crumbling American economy, the cost of living — and eating — must be addressed.