By Brian Gray
bgray@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - Higher unemployment combined with a jump in the number of people requesting and receiving services created a busier workload for Green County Human Services Economic Support specialists.
In response, the department received permission from the Green County Board of Supervisors in June to hire another economic support specialist. When the person is hired and trained, the department will have nine people, up from eight last year, to work with people who have been impacted by the economy.
The additional specialist is needed because more people are asking for assistance, said Jeannie Blumer, Green County Economic Support Specialist supervisor.
"We're seeing numbers of people who have lost their jobs or lost their homes that are unlike anything we've seen before," Blumer said.
In 2009, according to Blumer, human services worked with 112 households that were homeless or near homeless. Of that number, 55 were actually homeless.
"There were 65 homeless adults and 63 children in these households," she said.
Medical assistance and energy assistance participation increased by about 17 and 16 percent, respectively, in 2009, according to Greg Holcomb, Green County Human Services director.
Holcomb predicted a difficult year for people who need assistance due to the sluggish economy. He expects more people will come to human services for help.
"It's very likely that the 2010 economy will be similar, if not worse, than 2009," he said.
The people who come to human services to apply for assistance are worried about their families and their futures, Blumer said.
"It's a stressful time for them, both financially and emotionally," Blumer said. "An extra person here can help them with their problems and help them get the assistance they need."
An extra person can also help alleviate the stress felt by human services employees.
"It's very hard not to take their problems home with us,'" Blumer said. "We want to do as much as we can for the people who come here."
The extra support specialist should be on the job within the next few weeks, she said.
Holcomb told the county board that money to hire the extra person will come from state grants.
Green County Economic support offers a variety of public assistance programs to low-income families and individuals, according to the Green County Human Services website. Programs include medical assistance, Wisconsin Works, or W-2; FoodShare, and the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program.
bgray@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - Higher unemployment combined with a jump in the number of people requesting and receiving services created a busier workload for Green County Human Services Economic Support specialists.
In response, the department received permission from the Green County Board of Supervisors in June to hire another economic support specialist. When the person is hired and trained, the department will have nine people, up from eight last year, to work with people who have been impacted by the economy.
The additional specialist is needed because more people are asking for assistance, said Jeannie Blumer, Green County Economic Support Specialist supervisor.
"We're seeing numbers of people who have lost their jobs or lost their homes that are unlike anything we've seen before," Blumer said.
In 2009, according to Blumer, human services worked with 112 households that were homeless or near homeless. Of that number, 55 were actually homeless.
"There were 65 homeless adults and 63 children in these households," she said.
Medical assistance and energy assistance participation increased by about 17 and 16 percent, respectively, in 2009, according to Greg Holcomb, Green County Human Services director.
Holcomb predicted a difficult year for people who need assistance due to the sluggish economy. He expects more people will come to human services for help.
"It's very likely that the 2010 economy will be similar, if not worse, than 2009," he said.
The people who come to human services to apply for assistance are worried about their families and their futures, Blumer said.
"It's a stressful time for them, both financially and emotionally," Blumer said. "An extra person here can help them with their problems and help them get the assistance they need."
An extra person can also help alleviate the stress felt by human services employees.
"It's very hard not to take their problems home with us,'" Blumer said. "We want to do as much as we can for the people who come here."
The extra support specialist should be on the job within the next few weeks, she said.
Holcomb told the county board that money to hire the extra person will come from state grants.
Green County Economic support offers a variety of public assistance programs to low-income families and individuals, according to the Green County Human Services website. Programs include medical assistance, Wisconsin Works, or W-2; FoodShare, and the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program.