Hunger, Homelessness on the Rise in Cities Nationwide: Report

[eridani]

But who cares, as long as the stock market is setting records

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/12/hunger-homelessness-rise-cities-nationwide-report

Food insecurity and homelessness in cities around the country spiked in the past year, a new report released Thursday has found.

According to the United States Conference of Mayors' annual Hunger and Homelessness Survey (pdf), 71 percent of the 25 cities surveyed saw an increase in requests for emergency food assistance—a majority of those coming from families. Low wages were the biggest cause of hunger among those cities, followed by poverty, unemployment, and high living costs.

"Again this year, despite the economic progress the nation as a whole is making, we anticipated that problems related to joblessness and other lingering effects of the recession would be reflected in the reports coming in from the survey cities—and they were," said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider. "We have seen some extraordinary efforts by cities, private agencies, foundations, charities, and volunteers to cope with hunger and homelessness. But despite all efforts, the problems remain, as do our concerns about the future."

The report comes as low-pay workers around the country continue to call for an increase in minimum wage, marching through their cities and staging strikes and protests in front of fast food restaurants and retail stores. Among those who reported needing food assistance in Thursday's report, 38 percent were employed.

In a troubling dynamic highlighted in the report, the increased need for public services has arrived alongside a decrease in the capacity to meet them. More than 80 percent of emergency kitchens had to slash the amount of food an individual could take in one visit or per meal. Of the 25 cities surveyed, 21 said they expected food needs to increase in the next year.

[Fumesucker]

1. We have people right here on DU gushing about how great the "recovery" is

I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that six figure donors who attend salons with Hillary Clinton aren't suffering from food insecurity.

[SamKnause]

3. We have an endless

supply of money for war, weapons, planes, ships, tanks, nuclear arsenals, spy equipment etc .

If our people are starving, is the military going to feed us ??

Will they protect us from the government that will be responsible for starving its citizens??

I am so fucking sick of the shit.

What is wrong with the citizens of this country ????????????????????

How brainwashed do you have to be to put these evil fucks in positions of power ???

If you support Hillary you support more of the same.

If you don't believe me please watch Bill Moyers interview with John R. MacArthur.

If you can vote for Hillary after watching it, I really don't know what else to say.

[quarbis]

7. Most of the soldiers with families

Are on food stamps. There are about 300 generals in each service. Why the fuck is that??? They are handsomely paid. I worked at DFAS for 20 years paying the Army and it sickened me.

[yuiyoshida]

4. If one could find the numbers on record some where

showing the amount of people who show up each year at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco for the Holidays to eat dinner, one might see an increase in numbers. Betting on it.

[UglyGreed]

5. I saw my first food sign

in my hometown the other day, first time in 49 years here. Another person lives in a RV and bounces from block to block after being kicked out of a supermarket parking lot. I know there are many, many others in other areas but it does just seems strange to see it here. Please don't think I'm complaining, I just think the problem is spreading.

[Enthusiast]

6. The corporatistas want to relax Dodd—Frank.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[historylovr]

8. K & R