Poverty Up, Charity Down

The economic plunge has caused a spike in the number of people in need, at the same time reducing the number of those giving and the amount they give. An article in the Los Angeles Times reports, “In a new survey of 44 charities that provide food, shelter and financial assistance, Catholic Charities USA found that 52% reported an increase in middle-class clients, up from 43% in June.” Resources are drying up. The most vulnerable are the elderly, children, and single mothers. "The number of people and families who are forced to seek help is going to continue to grow exponentially in the next year," said Nancy Volpert, director of public policy at Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles. "The safety net is being stretched very thin."