How Our Lady of Fatima Food Pantry Supports Homeless Individuals Without Food Stamps

BILOXI, Miss. — Chase Yancy is a homeless man living in Biloxi. His main source of food assistance comes from the pantry at Our Lady of Fatima. He struggles to get food stamps, a process that has proven tough and frustrating.

“It’s hard for us out here. We really need those food stamps to survive,” Yancy shared.

After being homeless for six months, Yancy finally received his food stamps from the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) in Gulfport. However, it took him four long months to navigate the process.

“I kept applying, but it just didn’t go through,” he said.

Mary Francis Ford, a case worker at Our Lady of Fatima, often helps people like Yancy. She has also reached out to MDHS to assist clients without homes in obtaining food stamps, but she notes that it can take a considerable amount of time.

“This situation has persisted for years. Clients do eventually get help, but it seems like they are overwhelmed,” Ford explained.

An MDHS spokesperson mentioned that they aim to process every client application within 30 days. However, if there are any missing documents, the application process must restart.

Accessing the food stamp office is another hurdle for many homeless individuals. Ford pointed out that transportation is a significant barrier.

“Without transportation, it’s almost impossible for someone who is homeless to get there,” she said.

The food pantry also provides water and bagged lunches for people who can’t obtain food stamps. They offer a variety of clothing as well to support those in need.

Ford emphasized the need for better communication from the food stamp office. “I can’t tell if they need more staff or if there are issues with their system. I just know we are doing our best to help,” she said.

The recent winter storm caused the food stamp office to close for four days, creating a backlog of applications they are now trying to process.