“Now that I’m retired and on a fixed income.... However, [because I have a mortgage], I’m not eligible.”
By all sensible (and sane) criteria, you should be eligible.
That would also mean that the 20% of Oregonians who get food stamps don’t also have a mortgage.
Unfortunately, I live in my own home ... therefore I don’t qualify (in Ohio). Silly me, I decided to own my own home. American dream gone awry.