COVID-19 amplifies hunger in Maryland, 'Never been great and now its worse"

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - FOX45 continues to investigate delays to Maryland’s SNAP benefits and the widespread need for help to feed families across the state.

Some new data from a study by Maryland Hunger Solutions shows how dire the food insecurity situation is during COVID-19.

Maryland Hunger Solutions, a non-profit working to end hunger across the state, just released the “2020 Maryland County Hunger Profiles.”

The study provides a county-by-county breakdown of information about food insecurity based on population.

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According to Maryland Hunger Solutions, 10.6% of Maryland households enrolled in the SNAP program for the 2020 fiscal year.

That’s about one in every ten homes.

In June 2020, a record 800,000 Marylanders – or 14% of the population – relied on SNAP.

The non-profit’s director, Michael J. Wilson, says even before COVID-19 there was a high level of hunger in Maryland.

“It’s never been great and now it’s worse,” said Wilson.

Once the pandemic hit the US and its economy, this non-profit says hunger needs surged in all 24 counties across the state.

“It’s exacerbated the existing food insecurity which already existed in Maryland,” said Wilson.

In Baltimore City, Maryland Hunger Solutions says 24.5% of households enrolled in SNAP for the 2020 fiscal year.

That’s nearly one in four families.

In Spring 2020, according to the study, Baltimore also saw a 600% increase in SNAP applications.

And statewide in April, 150,000 applications were submitted to SNAP.

That's a 400% increase from the month before.

Maryland Hunger Solutions has a SNAP hotline to assist people with applying for benefits.

Wilson tells FOX45 the calls for help went from dozens, to hundreds, to thousands during the pandemic.

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FOX45 has also received calls and messages from viewers all week as we continue to investigate concerns over access to benefits and delays in receiving benefits.

“When you tell me that you’ve been inundated with calls, I can tell you we have been inundated with calls,” said Wilson.

Wilson says he and his team work daily with the Department of Human Services who runs Maryland SNAP.

FOX45 asked the non-profit director if the state can handle the record-setting demands flowing in from around Maryland.

He says they have no choice.

“First of all, they have to handle the volume of need,” said Wilson.

Earlier this week, DHS told FOX45 it’s receiving 10,000 calls a day in October. The department also reports doubling staffing at its call center to 110 employees.

But people waiting for benefits around Maryland continue to tell FOX45 about delays in the system or problems getting through.

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“I think they need greater capacity.,” said Wilson. “I think the number of people in their call center is better than it was but its not as good as it needs to be.”

Maryland Hunger Solutions says food insecurity affects everyone including working adults, seniors, veterans, the disabled, people on fixed-incomes, and children.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of people in need,” said Wilson.