Homeless services hit hard under weight of economy, foreclosures

[Bluebear]

Under the weight of a sharp economic downturn, a national home foreclosure crisis and a brutal winter, programs that provide assistance to the homeless are faced with a serious challenge.

Volunteers hit the streets Wednesday to take an annual point-in-time count of the area’s homeless population, an act the Department of Housing and Urban Development requires agencies to complete in order to receive federal funding for programs that help the homeless. Although the numbers haven’t yet been tallied, some say there is anecdotal evidence suggesting a rise in the number of people without housing....


“It’s really a difficult time for everyone across the state,” said Ellen Bruder-Moore, vice president of Community Counseling of Bristol County. “During this time of impending budget cuts, people are really in fear of losing their services,” she added. “It’s frightening to them because they feel they’ll lose their support line to keep moving forward.”

Margaret Sloat, the development director for Project Bread, which holds the annual Walk for Hunger every spring, said the organization’s emergency food assistance hotline saw a 22 percent increase from 2007 to 2008....

“To me, it’s an investment in the future,” (Bruder-Moore) said. “It’s very difficult right now with the economy we’re in, but we just have to stick together and share resources with each other.

http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x84119645/Homeless-services-hit-hard

[chill_wind]

1. kick and rec -- with worry and sadness.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd for more eyes. I wish there were more places around

here to donate. I think I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the post.