Few people in Talbot County realize how many of their neighbors depend on public assistance, or how serious the need is in a community often seen as wealthy. But Linda Webb, director of the Talbot County Department of Social Services, presented the sobering data at last night’s meeting, which was held via Zoom due to weather. She reported that more than 10 percent of the county’s population receives help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Each month, 2,282 households — nearly 4,000 individuals — receive more than $600,000 in food benefits.
“These are Talbot County residents,” Webb told the council, underscoring that the need is local and ongoing.
The department also provides food support to children during the summer months, when school meals are unavailable. Through the federal Sun Bucks program, Talbot County issued more than $388,000 last summer to over 3,000 children. Webb said she expects similar numbers this year. “It should look about the same,” she noted.
Food assistance is only one part of the department’s work. Social Services also administers temporary cash assistance, disability assistance, emergency help for families with children, and Medicaid, including long-term care for residents in nursing facilities.
Webb emphasized the department’s focus on helping people move toward stability. Programs such as work assistance and the Young Fathers Employment Program help participants find jobs and meet child support obligations. Last year, the county collected and distributed more than $2 million in child support payments.
“It’s amazing sometimes what you have to have in order to get a job,” Webb said, describing how the department helps people obtain birth certificates, IDs, transportation, and work clothing.
The department also manages the Citizens Emergency Fund, supported entirely by the County Council. The fund is used when no other government program applies. “We use these funds to meet needs that otherwise wouldn’t be met,” Webb said, citing help with rent, utilities, medical expenses, and even burial costs.
Council members repeatedly praised the department’s work. Webb closed by thanking them for their support. “We really appreciate your faith, your compliments, and your contributions,” she said.
Mary Smith says
Talbot’s poverty crisis is the direct result of land-use planning that values scenery over people. The county dismantled its local economy in the name of “preservation” and “rural character.” Seniors struggle to access care, families face addiction and housing stress, and young adults leave because good-paying jobs were zoned out of existence.
Talbot has been curated like a museum instead of allowed to function as a community. Workers are expected to commute long distances just to survive. Wealth is protected for a narrow few while hardship is normalized for everyone else. The result now looks like a real-world Hunger Games economy: comfort for elites, SNAP lines for the rest.
Glenn Baker says
SPY Staff may want to check their notes. I can’t make the math as presented work.
282 households of nearly 4,000 people results in an average household size of 14 people in Talbot County receiving benefits.
$600,000 in monthly benefits paid to 282 households results in an average payment of 2,128.
With a payment in Maryland of $1,789 for a family of 8 and an additional $218 for each additional member results in an average family size of over 9 members.
I question the statement of 10% of the county receiving SNAP benefits. Even though Maryland makes payments to families who are at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level after deductions for Child Care, Utilities and rent.
Citizens depend on truthful reporting from all sources.
Talbot readers should see a correction to the figures stated in this article.
Editor says
Thank you for flagging this. After reviewing the DSS presentation, we found that our article misstated the SNAP household figure. The correct monthly average is 2,282 households, not 282. Those households include 3,862 individuals, with $634,631 issued in SNAP benefits monthly.
The error occurred in transcribing the household number, which led to the math inconsistencies you noted. The article has been corrected. We appreciate you taking the time to question the figures and bring this to our attention.