Hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders receive state assistance like food stamps and Medicaid. The agency that helps connect them with those benefits – the Department of Human Services – is in the midst of a major reorganization.
The agency has laid off 70 employees, and will soon launch a brand new online application system for state assistance programs. Now, some advocates worry the department won’t have enough staff to meet clients’ needs, and that technical glitches could mar the roll out.
For this week’s The Pulse, we speak with the University of Rhode Island’s Kathleen Gorman. Gorman heads the Feinstein Center for a Hunger-Free America. Her program has a contract with the Department of Human Services to help reach out to Rhode Islanders who need food stamps, or SNAP. And she’s concerned for her clients.
The Department of Human Services tells Rhode Island Public Radio that it will work diligently to smooth out any technical glitches when the new system goes live. It says the reorganization is expected to save approximately $15 million in state funds this year.
You can listen to our earlier interview with DHS’ director Melba Depeña Affigne here.
