toledoblade.com --

A task force that aims to reduce poverty in Ohio has submitted a list of 21 short-term recommendations to Gov. Ted Strickland.

The 30-member task force was created in May to provide short-term and long-term recommendations.

The suggestions include:

•Expanding access to federally funded benefits, such as food stamps.

•Allowing telephone and electronic recertification of benefits.

•Extending the recertification period for many benefits from six months to 12 months.

Mr. Strickland is reviewing the short-term recommendations, his spokesman, Keith Dailey, said.

The long-term recommendations will be delivered in April, 2009.

In 2006, nearly 1.5 million Ohioans - or 13.3 percent of the state's 11.5 million residents - were living in poverty, according to a study released in May to coincide with the creation of the task force.

The study found a larger proportion of Ohio's population is living in poverty than at any time since the 1960s "War on Poverty."

In 2006, the poverty threshold was $20,444 for a two-adult, two-child family.

Historically, Ohio's poverty rate has been lower than the national average, but 2006 marked the first time it matched the national rate, according to the report.

"So many people are in poverty right now that we don't even realize it," said Beth Lewandowski, vice president of the North Toledo community group Lagrange Village Council, who serves on one of the task force's work groups.

The national economy, rising food and fuel costs, and the mortgage crisis make combating poverty more important than ever, according to the task force members.

"In a tough economic climate like this one, those living in poverty are oftentimes the hardest hit," a letter the task force submitted with the recommendations said.

"Paying for their basic needs with such inflation becomes increasingly difficult with little to no savings to supplement monthly income."

Bill Kitson, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater Toledo, a task force member, said he's hoping to see more creative long-term solutions than what are being proposed for the short-term.

"What I struggled with as a member of that group is that the short-term recommendations needed to be quick and something the governor could implement unilaterally," Mr. Kitson said.

That led to mostly bureaucratic suggestions, such as how different state departments could share data to help people move between agencies more easily.

"I commend the governor for trying to do something quickly," Mr. Kitson said. "But I am anxious to try to give him more long-term solutions."

Deb Ortiz-Flores, executive director of Lucas County Job and Family Services, said many of the recommendations seem feasible, and some already are in place in Lucas County.

In any changes, "local flexibility is important," Ms, Ortiz-Flores added. "Ohio has 88 counties. The issue of poverty may be in every community, but the barriers may be different. The needs of Lucas County, are not Athens, Ohio, needs."

Contact Kate Giammarise at:
kgiammarise@theblade.com
or 419-724-6133.

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