Apr
30
Real need? Or unchecked greed?
Filed Under food stamps, projects, social services |
While investigating Florida’s disaster food stamp program after Hurricane Wilma, I tracked down internal memos and e-mails, called dozens of workers and heard from many who worried that affluent people were taking advantage of a program meant for the poor. The resulting stories showed how lax oversight made it nearly impossible for the state to weed out fraud. State leaders promise major changes before the next emergency aid program.
DAY 1 STORY AND DOWNLOAD LINKS
Main story: Real need? Or unchecked greed?
Sidebar: State hired workers with criminal backgrounds
Chart: Exploding expense of disaster food-stamp program
Map in PDF: Local disaster food stamp rates (1.1 MB, 1 page)
Map in PDF: Regional disaster food stamp rates (592 KB, 1 page)
Print pages in PDF: Right-click and save-as to download (2.5 MB, 3 pages)
DAY 2 STORY AND DOWNLOAD LINKS
Main story: Disaster food-stamp plan revamped to block fraud
Print pages in PDF: Right-click and save-as to download (1.7 MB, 2 pages)