Valley despairs as demand for social programs flares

By Jon Moffett

With the economy lashing the nation’s industries, some local families fear help won’t reach them.

YOUNGSTOWN — A struggling economy and layoffs are bringing more headaches than holiday cheer to the Valley.

“We’re backed up,” said Emmaline Adams, a social programs administrator for the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services. “Our demand is just so much greater than our supply right now ... We’ve seen a definite influx.”

Adams added that there is a daily line when the facility opens at 7 a.m. and it lasts throughout the day.

“The entire state of Ohio is feeling an increase [in benefit applications],” she said.

Judee Genetin, the director of the department, said the logjam is due in part to the increase of need and the decrease of available help.

“The wait for clients is only going to get longer,” she said.

Recent cuts by companies such as General Motors in Lordstown, which laid off 890 employees with the announcement of its third-shift termination, and the KraftMaid Cabinetry plant in Middlefield have caused stress on many area families.

Krista Miller, 20, of Cortland has seen her share of frustrations. Her boyfriend, John Owsley, 27, and ex-husband, Josh, were laid off from KraftMaid roughly three weeks ago. Miller’s ex-husband was laid off indefinitely; Owsley was put on temporary layoff.

Owsley, who was called back to the KraftsMaid plant Monday, had tried to collect unemployment, but said the process is so backed up he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to collect.

The Miller family’s situation isn’t uncommon. And frustration is mounting.

Mike Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, has noticed the increase of those in need.

Iberis said, “I think the increase of people in needing assistance is a direct reflection of the hard economic times we’re experiencing in the Valley.”

Nationally, the economy has hit a crisis point with large corporations seeking bailouts from Congress, most notably Wall Street and the auto industry.

Miller watched the hearing between members of the Congress and the Big Three automakers with disgust.

“I wanted to punch [the CEOs] in the face,” she said. “They have no clue. To them, being broke is having less than $20,000 in their bank accounts. I want them to have to decide on whether they need a pack of diapers or a gallon of milk. It’s so aggravating because they don’t have a clue.”

Miller said the most frustrating thing is that Congress seems to be focusing on helping the larger companies and not individuals in need.

“It’s like they’re trying to help, but it’s not helping,” she said. “We’re so small and it’s such a big country it feels like there’s nothing we can do. We’re just a little aspect in a big world.”

jmoffett@vindy.com