Colo. food banks see “staggering” increase in need, By Colleen O’Connor, November 18, 2010, Denver Post: “Colorado’s five major food banks distributed more than 76 million pounds of food throughout the state last year, a 25 percent increase over the previous year, and experts expect worse to come. ‘Already, this fiscal year . . . is on pace for another 7 to 10 percent increase over the prior year, which makes that a 32 to 35 percent increase over a two-year time period,’ said Kevin Seggelke, president and chief executive of Food Bank of the Rockies. ‘That’s just a staggering number. The worst news is that we continue to hear that even if the economy (goes) back to pre-2008 levels, there may be a gap of 18 to 24 months’ before the number of people swamping state food banks returns to pre-recession levels, he said. A report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that food insecurity – the lack of consistent access to a nutritious, balanced diet – remained relatively stable in 2009, with the number of U.S. households classified as food insecure increasing slightly to 17.7 million from 17.6 million in 2008…”
Employed but low-income N.J. families struggle to find assistance, By Carmen Juri, November 14, 2010, Star-Ledger: “Before the economic slump, Contina Wright and her family enjoyed the creature comforts of a middle-class lifestyle. Wright and her husband, a construction worker, spent money freely, vacationed, dined out regularly and had enough left over for savings. ‘We had everything covered,’ said Wright, 38. All that changed when the housing market plunged. With construction jobs scarce, Wright became the sole breadwinner in a family of six. Unable to pay bills, the family hit rock bottom last year and had to live at a homeless shelter for two months. These days, Wright and her family are actually lucky they found a shelter for the underemployed…”
Hunger grows in Oregon, according to report, By Jillian Daley, November 19, 2010, Salem Statesman Journal: “Oregon is the third-hungriest state in the United States, according to a recently released report. About 6.6 percent of 1,514,000 Oregon households (about 500,000 people) had very low food security, meaning they did not have regular access to healthy food, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Tuesday. The number of Oregonians suffering from low or very low food security is two percentage points higher than it was in a 2004-06 study…”
No big increase in health charity with job losses, By Guy Boulton, August 8, 2010, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Tens of thousands of people in the Milwaukee area have lost their jobs since the start of the recession, yet the increase has not resulted in a surge in charity care by health care systems in the region. The amount of free and discounted care provided by the health systems has been stable when calculated as a percentage of patient revenue, even as the economy struggles through the worst downturn since the Great Depression. The amount of bad debt also has not risen noticeably. That surprises some health care executives, who expected a sharp increase in charity care and bad debt expense at the recession’s start…”
Uninsured patients overwhelm Denver Health clinics, By Jennifer Brown, August 9, 2010, Denver Post: “A rising number of needy patients without health insurance is overwhelming community clinics in Denver, leaving some sick people to wait up to four months to see a family doctor. When new patients call one of Denver Health Medical Center’s eight clinics across the city, they are transferred to a downtown call center where they are put on a waiting list – a list that now contains 3,500 names. Patients can end up on the list ‘even if they are dying of something – that’s the horror,’ said Dr. Lara Penny, a family doctor at Denver Health’s Montbello clinic. The facility is so busy, the hospital system is setting up modular units to accommodate patients until a new building opens in January 2012 with the help of federal stimulus money. The county’s safety-net hospital, Denver Health treats anyone with an emergency, regardless of whether they can pay. That means a person injured in a car wreck or who has a heart attack will get care. But if that person also is diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease, getting a follow-up appointment with a primary-care doctor can take months…”
More people struggling to stay warm, taxing agencies, By Steve Neavling, February 2, 2010, Detroit Free Press: “Working just eight hours a week, Cynthia Caruthers can barely afford to keep her heat on for a few hours a day. ‘I’ve never had anything like this happen to me,’ said Caruthers, 42, who lives with her 14-year-old son in Detroit and can’t find a better job. ‘It’s scary.’ Caruthers is among an increasing number of metro Detroiters at risk of losing heat this winter because they either can’t find work or are struggling with small paychecks. Compared with last year, the problem this winter is particularly brutal: The number of unemployed residents rose 33%. State and local agencies are responding with extra money and resources to help down-on-their-luck families pay their utility bills, but officials fear it won’t be enough…”
Utilities ordered to ease shutoffs, By Ryan Carter, February 4, 2010, San Gabriel Valley Tribune: “The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday required utility companies to curb a trend toward increased power shut-offs at a time when many customers are having a tough time paying the bills. Commissioners unanimously required Rosemead-based Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co. to inform customers with past-due bills – but who can keep current on their current payments – that they have three months to arrange a plan to pay the utility. That could be extended to 12 months depending on a customer’s situation, Commissioner Michael Peevey said. To further ease the payment burden, any disconnected customer who has established credit with a utility would not be required to pay reconnection fees…”
