One out of every 10 Floridians is now receiving food stamps. In Bay County it's four out of ever 10 people. In Bay County the number of people receiving food stamps has increased 43% in a year.

The number continues to rise but the department distributing the stamps is facing budget cuts. More and more working families are depending of food stamps to make ends meet.

As the state’s unemployment rate skyrockets so does the need for food stamps. Three million calls poured into the state’s food stamp hotline last month.

Lee Ann Godwin helps people with their applications…. and listens to their stories.

“The tears, men and women, Single fathers coming in. It hurts their pride and their ego.”

The Department of Children and Families is trying to process claims with 3 thousand fewer people. New technology has helped some…but
George Sheldon, DCF Secretary there are still dlays.

“I know there is a lot of frustration in the public who can’t get through to the call centers.”

The call center has been so busy that more and more people have been stopping by their local offices to apply in person.

Work has slowed for horticulturalist David Lietz. For the past few months he’s been visiting the food stamp office. Over time he’s seen a change.

“There seems to be more people and just more middle class people.”

And with more members of the working class depending on food stamps, DCF hopes lawmakers will give them the money they need to extent their call center hours and pay overtime.

DCF is facing a 5 million dollar budget cut, but administrators hope a five million dollar award the department received in September can be used to bridge the gap.

Here’s a breakdown on all of Florida’s 67 counties and compares food stamp numbers with December 2007 and December 2008