COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio spends more than $1 billion every year on food stamps for poor families, yet more people should be served by the system.

A report released Tuesday from the Food Research and Action Center showed only 64 percent of the people eligible for food stamps in Ohio are involved in the assistance program.

The same study found 13 percent of Ohioans are living in poverty. That amounted to 1,450,650 people.

In a written statement, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt of the Second Harvest Foodbanks said, “Too many Ohio residents continue to slip through the nutrition safety net.”

The study indicated 1,063,920 people in Ohio are currently receiving food stamp benefits every month. The average amount received per person is $99.18.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com