Homeless are particularly affected by economic downturn

April 02, 2011|By Chelsea Burns, TRITON REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Homeless are particularly affected by economic downtown - Philly.com

In a recession, we all feel the pinch of a slow economy. Homes, places of worship, jobs, and lifestyles are all affected in some way.

Perhaps the people affected most are those who are down on their luck and find themselves without shelter or sufficient food: the homeless.

According to a recent survey by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, there are about 3.5 million homeless people, including 1.35 million children.

With the downturn of the economy, some shelters in the Delaware Valley, such as the Cumberland Family Shelter in Vineland, N.J., saw an increase in people needing assistance.

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"Thirteen months ago, they had to put people on a waiting list," said Tammy Morris, who works at the shelter.

However, she said that the shelter no longer has a waiting list. As of Feb. 24, at least 50 people, including families, were residing in the Cumberland Family Shelter.

Homeless shelters in Philadelphia and Camden said they could not release information about their shelters or residents.

According to the outreach organization Project H.O.M.E., 9 percent of the homeless are between the ages of 18 to 25, 49 percent are between the ages of 26 to 45, 40 percent are between 46 to 65 and 3 percent 65 and over.

Some other Project H.O.M.E. statistics show that the majority - 80 percent - of homeless people are African American, followed by 13 percent white and 6 percent Latino.

Some causes of homelessness are: poverty from a lack of good jobs and minimal government, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.

Data also show that 6.3 percent of the U.S. population is currently living in poverty, according to USA Today. One percent of the U.S. population has experienced homelessness.

Longtime Camden resident and activist Frank Fulbrook said homelessness became a problem in the South Jersey city in the 1980s and has continued to increase ever since. However, many religious organizations in Camden have started food-sharing programs to assist the homeless and poor.

For those who need a shelter, Morris suggests people call the shelter beforehand.

There are a variety of shelters depending on people's needs, such as emergency and homeless shelters which provide short term housing, and day shelters that do not offer overnight stay, but offer a meal and a shower and some laundry facilities.

Some shelters ask for a certain percentage of income from the residents for using the facilities and most of the shelters only allow a short stay.

Many shelters rely on donations.

Morris said that despite the economy, people are still donating items.

"Things have been OK - no negative impact. Things have been donated like clothes, personal hygiene supplies, baked food, and toys for children during Christmas time," she said.

Though Morris says most shelters do not turn people away - they take men, women, children with guardians - there are some restrictions and rules for residents at homeless shelters.

The Cumberland Family Shelter does a screening process and background check, not admitting registered sex offenders.

"There are requirements to be admitted," Morris said. First, residents must follow rules. Second, they must agree to look for housing and a job, and third, they must attend mandatory classes. "There is a time limit, which one way is through welfare . . . How long you can receive welfare is up to 90 days."