More than 700 in Charlestown

Where The SNAP Cards Are

By Bob Plain in RIFuture.org

The five cities with the biggest budget problems also have the highest percent of residents who use SNAP benefits.  In other words, there’s a correlation between the communities that can’t pay their bills and residents who can’t afford to feed themselves.

According to the Department of Human Services, 181,567 Rhode Islanders – 17 percent of state – use SNAP cards. But 59 percent of all SNAP users lives in one of the post-industrial cities that have experienced serious budget problems in recent years.

1. Central Falls; 40.3 percent
2. Woonsocket: 33.8 percent
3. Providence: 33.8 percent
4. Pawtucket: 27.9 percent
5. West Warwick: 25.8 percent.

The communities with the lowest percentage of residents who use SNAP cards probably won’t surprise you either:

1. Barrington: 2.7 percent
2. Block Island: 3 percent
3. Jamestown: 3.5 percent
4. Little Compton: 4.3 percent
5. Portsmouth: 5.2 percent

Here’s all 39 cities and towns ranked by participation rate:

1. CENTRAL FALLS    40.3%
2. WOONSOCKET    33.8%
3. PROVIDENCE    33.8%
4. PAWTUCKET    27.9%
5. WEST WARWICK    25.8%
6. NEWPORT    15.4%
7. CRANSTON   14.5%
8. EAST PROVIDENCE    14.8%
9. WARREN    14.7%
10. NORTH PROVIDENCE    14.2%
11. JOHNSTON     13.4%
12. WARWICK    12%
13. HOPKINTON    10.7%
14. BURRILLVILLE    10.6%
15. COVENTRY    10.5%
16. WESTERLY    10.1%
17. LINCOLN    9.6%
18. CHARLESTOWN    9.2% [That translates into around 725 Charlestown residents]
19. NORTH SMITHFIELD    8.9%
20. NORTH KINGSTOWN    8.8%
21. MIDDLETOWN    8.6%
22. TIVERTON    8.3%
23. CUMBERLAND    8.1%
24. EXETER    7.6%
25. BRISTOL    7.3%
26. FOSTER    7.1%
27. RICHMOND    6.9%
28. SOUTH KINGSTOWN    6.3%
29. NARRAGANSETT    6.3%
30. GLOCESTER    5.6%
31. SCITUATE    5.5%
32. EAST GREENWICH    5.5%
33. WEST GREENWICH    5.1%
34. SMITHFIELD     5%
35. PORTSMOUTH    5.2%
36. LITTLE COMPTON    4.3%
37. JAMESTOWN    3.5%
38. BLOCK ISLAND    3%
39. BARRINGTON    2.7%

Bob Plain is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and across the country.