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Stephen Lendman
Millions of Americans now endure protracted Depression conditions at a
time half the population is either poor or low income. Long-term
unemployment is unprecedented, and federal aid is being cut, not
increased.
Two new reports highlight enormous depravation levels and human
suffering, getting little or no major media attention. Many affected
families used to be middle class. They’re now low-income or impoverished
by unemployment or spotty low-pay part-time work.
Most important is that much worse conditions are coming during
America’s greatest ever Depression to last years and devastate many more
households than already.
In December, the US Conference on Mayors published its “Hunger and
Homelessness Survey: A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in
America’s Cities.”
It covered 29 cities. The period between September 1, 2010 and August
31, 2011 was examined. Key findings reflected dire nationwide
conditions.
Only four cities said emergency help wasn’t requested in the past
year. In two cities, conditions were unchanged. Two others said they
improved. Overall, aid requests increased by 15.5%.
Among those needing it, 51% were in families, 26% were employed, 19%
were elderly, and 11% homeless. Causes cited included unemployment,
poverty, low wages, and high housing costs.
Cities reported an average 10% increase in the amount of food
distributed. Over 70% of them reported emergency food purchase budget
increases. Nonetheless, 27% of people needing it didn’t get it. Demand’s
fast outstripping supply and/or the willingness of cities to help
during hard times.
Under tight budget conditions, 86% of emergency kitchens and food
pantries reduced the quantity of food distributed per visit to
accommodate larger numbers. Moreover, demand is so heavy that people are
now turned away.
No city surveyed expects emergency requests to decline next year.
Nearly all, in fact, expect increases given dire economic conditions.
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