Homeless Families On The Rise Locally
NBC 4
Although the number of homeless people hasn’t changed a lot, the number of people who are part of a family and without a home has increased.
CENTRAL OHIO—With today’s sluggish economy and high unemployment rate, homelessness continues to be a problem in Central Ohio and across the nation.
Some 1.6 million Americans used a homeless shelter or transitional housing between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2008, according to a new report by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The number of people who use a shelter or transitional housing didn’t change much. What did change, though, were the people who make up that number.
According to the report, the number of families utilizing those services was up nine percent from 473,000 to 517,000.
The Community Shelter Board said it served 786 families and nearly 1,700 children in 2008 at its three Central Ohio shelters.
The board served 117 families Sunday night alone.
While representatives with Lutheran Social Services said the numbers haven’t increased locally like the report suggests, a Fairfield County program that helps homeless families find homes has seen more clients.
During a 24-hour count of Ohio’s homeless last year, the Coalition of Homelessness and Housing in Ohio found 39 percent were persons in families.
Dave Drumm, manager of Choice Food Pantry in Columbus, said he’s seeing similar changes in the clients the pantry serves.
“We’re seeing right now a 41 percent increase in our families over this time last year. And most of our families are families with children who have moved in together,” he said. “In June of last year, when I did my stats last year, I saw 129 to 139 families with children,” he said. “I’m seeing 700 children now.”
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Reader Reactions
If you want to donate to the Lutheran Social Services food pantries, you need to call 614-228-5200. Or you can go to their website at www.lssco.org. They can tell you the most needed items.
Mike Pantries are your basic needs, whatever they can buy by the skid. And what is donated, by folks. Bread/veg/fruit/meat/sometimes milk group. Anything that is food is always welcome to them.
We take for granted all the extras. Hair soap, toilet papers, towels, dish soap, floor cleaners.
Baby items, soap, powder, formula, wipes, food. juice, Toddler pickups and treats. I see formula donated to our thrift store all the time. I buy it up and donate it if I can.
We take it for granted because we can walk into the store most of us and buy that item. Economy is tuff on everyone.
Get with me at my email or off wishupoahero.com.
Thanks duanesgal99, is there anything there is a severe shortage of at your pantry? I have can goods, packaged noodles, cereal. I can and will get anything else that might be in severe shortage
Anyone that wishes to assist can contact me through my email…duanesgal99@aol.com. If we get in trouble for this, well one more way to show how much Ohio really cares. Also I can be found on wishuponahero.com under duanesgal99.
Come on ohio I know your out there.
Sad Story,,Im almost there myself , single, job loss, and every time you turn around this city is raising everything from taxes for the schools, health care, and I cant get any kind of assistance due to being single but yet I pay higher taxes for everyone else..Homes well the banks dont want to help or assist you, the utilities, forget it..unless you have 2 days to waste to fill applications only to be told you make too much..when did 0 become too much..OHIO is done folks..overseas, out sourcing took our jobs..and at 55 im being ask to go back to school and I have degrees..This Administration needs to wake up or there will be no one around to vote you in..Also I was the one who would assist someone hungry..guess what ,hands has turned and I get spit on..If you think i want to stay here..I have begun to relocate so this cow town can reap in misery..sorry but it has fallen too low to the ground..
duanesgal99, I would like to make a donation of some food. I’m going to get in trouble with this site for this but how can I get in touch with you?
I am a volunteer for one of the pantries. It is not funny anymore to see the folks coming through. There all walks of life now days. There depleted waiting for unemployment to start.
Because I ask for donation to assist other families. Personally, I am seeing the hardship that has fallen our fellow people out there. From a pair of shoes to assisting an elderly family with funds that are not available to them. It is not out there for anyone of use that are in need right now.
I pray that everyone that sees this will donate there leftovers when you clean the freezer out or extra garden veg. to a pantry. Personally you write me and I will pickup. You have extra formula, diapers, food of any kind still in date, they can use. There are folks out there that can not get to the pantry, those are the ones that I target to assist. All you half to do is open your eyes, its all around you.
This is sad…so many people lost everything because of the economy taking a dive. I know there were some that took loans they could not afford but there were many that were making their house payments and trying to live but ended up losing their jobs and everything else along with it. Thanks Wall Street, not that you actually care what you have done
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