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Guest Opinion: Fighting poverty with a paycheck in Klamath Falls

Our region is home to timber, ranch and agriculture communities that have been hit hard by changing economic and social patterns, both in Medford and Klamath Falls. Even before the recent recession, our rural region struggled to hold on to living-wage jobs. This in turn contributed to growing problems with crime, drug abuse and homelessness as referenced in the June 5 editorial entitled “There goes the neighborhood.” Creative and holistic solutions are necessary to address these problems in our community.
The Oregon Department of Human Services spends over $60 million annually on food stamps and welfare benefits in Klamath County. This support, though important, simply cannot repair or rebuild what our community has lost.

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