US Mayors Cite Rise in Homeless, Hunger

AS the incoming Republican congressional majority prepares to cut aid to the poor, a new study says most American cities are struggling to meet growing demands for emergency food aid.

In its 10th annual report on hunger and homelessness in 30 major US cities, the US Conference of Mayors found that requests for emergency food rose over the past year by an average of 12 percent. The increases were reported by 83 percent of the cities.

The number of families with children seeking emergency food aid rose by an average of 14 percent. On average, 15 percent of the requests for emergency food aid could not be met because of insufficient resources, which fell over all by 4 percent, the survey found.

Some 53 percent of those cities reported being unable to provide adequate quantities of emergency food aid. In another finding, the report stated, requests for emergency shelter rose in the 30 cities by an average of 13 percent, with increases registered by 4 out of 5 of the cities. Requests by homeless families for shelter alone rose by 21 percent.