Fix the food aid process: Editorial

After the Jindal administration bungled emergency food stamp applications for Hurricane Gustav, it promised changes to address the problems. But thousands of people applying for Hurricane Isaac emergency food aid on Wednesday still had to wait hours in New Orleans and in Jefferson Parish. Some, including elderly applicants, waited outside under a baking sun.

Food Stamp LinesThe line began to form before the sun was up outside the Alario Center in Westwego on Wednesday, as thousands showed up to apply for emergency food stamp relief.

Those weren't the only problems. Application locations opened from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - inconvenient hours for people trying to get back to work after the storm. And some applicants were turned away at least an hour before closing time.

This is unacceptable.

Tens of thousands of people are likely to need the aid, which is available based on income and family assets to residents of nine affected parishes, including most of metro New Orleans. Current food stamp recipients will automatically get eligible aid and don't need to fill out an application.

The crowds in line are people who don't usually qualify for aid but may now because of losses from Isaac.

Given the breadth of the disaster and past experience, the state should have been better prepared.

At the Alario Center in Westwego, lines began forming at 5 a.m., yet it took officials the better part of a day to realize that people shouldn't be made to wait out in the sun for hours. People should have been allowed to wait inside from the start.

The state also lacked enough personnel to handle applicants more efficiently, especially in the largest parishes, where some people reported waiting five hours Wednesday. Some changes Thursday, including setting up special lines for elderly and disabled applicants, appeared to have made substantial improvements.

But it's baffling that this process is not more customer-friendly.

For example, centers should be open past 6 p.m., and applicants who show up in the designated hours should be let in and processed the same day. If needed, the state should tap personnel from other state agencies.

Some delays are perhaps inevitable when so many people need help. And this process is working better than after Gustav, but only because 2008 was a full fiasco.

Storms happen, and this won't be the last time this process takes place. It's about time for the state to make it easier on applicants.