Two new reports find hunger, poverty on rise
1984
Two recent studies indicate that the number of poor and hungry persons are on the rise in the US. A survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the U.S. Conference of City Human Service Officials, and OMB Watch questioned 83 city human service officials on the effect of the "budding national economy" on the city, the ability of human service programs to meet demands, and federal actions needed to improve conditions. Four out of 5 cities reported increased numbers of poor people with concomitant demands for increased services. Approximately one-third of the demand is not being met. The greatest need is for mental health care, legal services and child care. More than half of the city representatives felt that the recovery has not reached poor people. The Michigan Food and Nutrition Advisory Commission held 6 invitational hearings around the state in May 1984. This report recommended, aside from recommendations for federal spending increases for food and nutrition programs, that school breakfast programs be restored where they have been dropped due to funding cuts, meal programs for the elderly, increase outreach programs, and utilization of the school cafeterias as meal sites for the elderly on a 7-day a week basis in high need areas. (emc)
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]