Where The SNAP Cards Are

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. Smithfield: 5 percent

Here’s the other 29 cities and towns:

And here’s the entire list:

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. EAST PROVIDENCE 14.8%
8. CRANSTON 14.5%
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%
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. PORTSMOUTH    5.2%
34. WEST GREENWICH    5.1%
35. SMITHFIELD     5%
36. LITTLE COMPTON    4.3%
37. JAMESTOWN    3.5%
38. BLOCK ISLAND    3%
39. BARRINGTON    2.7%