Applications for food stamps have skyrocketed 73 percent from 2007 to 2008 in Fairfax.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (WUSA)-- One place Leigh Dang never thought she'd be is at the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, applying for food stamps.

"I lost my job two weeks ago," Dang said. And desperate times, call for desperate measures for this single mom. She crowded into the waiting room at the Falls Church office and waited to apply for help. "I need to pay for rent and food."

The waiting room is full of people in the same boat from all walks of life, and they're looking for all kinds of help, especially food stamps.

Applications between December of 2007 and December of 2008 are up 73 percent.

"Perhaps they postponed deciding to apply, thinking they could do it on their own, and they lost their job, and now they're coming in to see what they're eligible for, "Division Director Juani Diaz told us.

A family of four needs to have a gross monthly income of $2,297 dollars or less to qualify for food stamps.

If they do, they'll get a debit card with $197 a month for food.

Diaz says, "the benefits are not huge. It's a help, a supplement for their income to provide food for their family."

The waiting rooms at four regional offices in Fairfax County may soon be even more crowded. Officials estimate only about a third of eligible families are taking advantage of the help available to them.

Right now almost 13,000 Fairfax County families get food stamps, about 39 thousand are probably eligible.

A free call to 211, the National Health and Human Services Hotline, will let you know if you qualify and point you to services in your area.

"The economy is not getting better, at least not in the immediate future, so we expect to see more families coming to us for assistance," Diaz says.