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- Oct 20, 2002
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Consider a donation gift this year in the name of those you love; the gift of compassion.
WASHINGTON - Hunger and homelessness increased in many of America's largest cities this year, with growing demand for emergency food supplies for families with children, the elderly and even people with jobs.
Requests for food assistance by families with children increased by 18 percent and requests by elderly persons increased by 13 percent during the past year. Overall, nearly three out of four cities reported an increase in food assistance requests.
The study found:
_Families with children comprise 40 percent of the homeless population, single women 14 percent and unaccompanied youth 5 percent.
_Thirty-nine percent of the adults requesting emergency food assistance were employed.
_Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 15 percent.
_People remain homeless an average of five months — longer than before, in most cities.
More than half of the cities have to turn hungry people away, with more than 14 percent of requests for emergency food assistance going unmet.
"The report is full of bad news, but solutions are there," said Michael Lennon, chief executive officer of Home Aid America, a group that helps homeless people get jobs and housing.
"The building industry is doing well, but as prices go up, housing costs go up," he said. "It's good for people who own homes, but hard on people who are renters."
"This survey underscores the impact the economy has had on everyday Americans," said James A. Garner, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors who oversaw the study.
Most of the cities expected that requests for emergency food assistance and shelter would rise again over the coming year, the study said.
Food needs for the poor grew in nearly nine out of 10 of the surveyed cities.
By SIOBHAN McDONOUGH, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Hunger and homelessness increased in many of America's largest cities this year, with growing demand for emergency food supplies for families with children, the elderly and even people with jobs.
Requests for food assistance by families with children increased by 18 percent and requests by elderly persons increased by 13 percent during the past year. Overall, nearly three out of four cities reported an increase in food assistance requests.
The study found:
_Families with children comprise 40 percent of the homeless population, single women 14 percent and unaccompanied youth 5 percent.
_Thirty-nine percent of the adults requesting emergency food assistance were employed.
_Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 15 percent.
_People remain homeless an average of five months — longer than before, in most cities.
More than half of the cities have to turn hungry people away, with more than 14 percent of requests for emergency food assistance going unmet.
"The report is full of bad news, but solutions are there," said Michael Lennon, chief executive officer of Home Aid America, a group that helps homeless people get jobs and housing.
"The building industry is doing well, but as prices go up, housing costs go up," he said. "It's good for people who own homes, but hard on people who are renters."
"This survey underscores the impact the economy has had on everyday Americans," said James A. Garner, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors who oversaw the study.
Most of the cities expected that requests for emergency food assistance and shelter would rise again over the coming year, the study said.
Food needs for the poor grew in nearly nine out of 10 of the surveyed cities.
By SIOBHAN McDONOUGH, Associated Press Writer
