PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Maine had the nation's second-highest percentage of households receiving food stamp benefits in 2008.
According to the 2008 American Community Survey, 13.8 percent of Maine households received benefits last year. That's nearly 21/2 percentage points behind Louisiana, which took first place.
In New England, no other state came close to Maine. Neighboring New Hampshire had the region's lowest rate at 5.2 percent. Nationally, the figure was 8.6 percent, up nearly 1 percent from the previous year.
Anna Hicks of the Maine Equal Justice Partners advocacy organization tells the Portland Press Herald that Maine has done a good job of reaching out to people to make sure they receive benefits for which they are eligible.
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