Despite America’s economic prosperity, more Americans requested food, shelter and other emergency services in 1996 than in previous years, the nation’s largest private social-service organization reported Wednesday.
The 25th annual survey by Catholic Charities USA said its agencies served 12.7 million people in 1996, about 2 million more than in 1995. Among those in need, 7.9 million people asked for emergency services such as food and shelter, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.
Overall, the report found its “most startling” increase in the 5.6 million Americans who requested food in 1996, up from 4.9 million in 1995.
“There is still widespread hunger in America. Poverty is not going away,” said Rev. Fred Kammer, president of Catholic Charities USA.
“Despite a growing economy, low unemployment and even before the full effects of welfare reform have kicked in, the number of Americans in need of food continues to grow.”
In Chicago, Catholic Charities served about 466,000 people in the 12 months ended June 30, an increase of about 5 percent from the previous fiscal year.
About 7,500 of those people requested emergency services such as food and shelter, an increase of about 21 percent from a year earlier.
“Eight percent of the people who call us don’t have food or shelter,” said Rev. Michael Boland, administrator of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Chicago. “Most of them are people who have, historically, never come to us before . . . people working minimum-wage jobs and having a very difficult time paying for everything. So they sacrifice food, medicine or the roof over their heads and come to us for support.”
In addition to the significant increases in people requesting basic needs nationwide, the report said demand for health-related care rose to 1.4 million people, triple 1995’s total.
The increased demand for basic needs, emergency services, and health programs nationwide is caused by government cutbacks and legislation that worsens many Americans’ financial problems, Catholic Charities officials said.
“There used to be government programs which acted as a financial safety net. Now welfare reform has people falling through the cracks,” Boland said. “Now people fall further and further behind on rent or utility bills, have no way to pay for health care, or search for work in an environment where welfare reform has increased competition for low-end jobs.”
Catholic Charities officials predicted that future cutbacks will increase demand on non-profit social services.
