777,000 adults are hungry in L.A. County

[question everything]

Long Beach Press Telegram

777,000 adults are hungry in L.A. County
By Jason Kosareff
Staff writer

(snip)

"It indicates that hunger is both widespread and in a variety of suburban communities that previously may not have identified significant rates of hunger," said Matt Sharp of San Francisco-based California Food Policy Advocates. "What is significant about this data is hunger exists beyond the urban core."

The organization released the information as part of its 2004 County by County Profile, available on its Web site, www.cfpa.net The report shows more than 1 million people in Los Angeles County qualify for the federal food stamps program but do not receive the subsidy, resulting in a loss of $1 billion to the county.

Experts say each $1 in food stamps creates about $1.84 in economic action for a community. County policymakers will have a forum in January to figure out ways to register more poor in the Department of Agriculture program.

http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~21474~2591997,00.html#

[acmavm]

1. Hunger in America is one of the biggest scandals of this administration.

But hey, what the hell. With this administration, with this idiot running around talking about having a mandate (get this guy a dictionary someone, please), what isn't a scandal.

Hey, as long as we're fighting a war of choice for big oil and the BFEE, what's a few million hungry Americans anyway? We got to do all we can to line the pockets of the top 1.5% of this country, that's all that matters.

[raifield]

2. How much could it cost, really?

With this false War on Terror costing something like a million or billion a day, and billions upon billions overall (are we up to trillions yet?), what could it really cost to insure some level of an adequate food program, necessary funding for education, and a medical system that works?

Probably a drop in a bucket compared to invading other countries.

[zann725]

3. I live in L.A., and yesterday I saw a disabled man lying on the sidewalk

next to his wheelchair, trying to get some sleep...mid-day. The sidewalk was near a grocery store in a fairly affluent neighborhood. The woman next to me in the parking lot said she'd seen him lying there on the sidewalk the day before, and wondered why he didn't go somewhere for 'help.' "Aren't there shelters for such things?" she said...truly out of touch. In my heart I know this disabled man at one point applied for both Public Assistance AND Social Security Disability, and was no doubt turned down. I understand they make it extremely tough here for even qualifying people to get food stamps. And I think someone in a prior thread a week or so ago, mentioned shelters in Houston (?) which had been closed until at least the end of January...leaving the homeless to sleep outside at night in the Shelter's parking lot in 30 degree weather.

I don't want to hear that it's because people haven't applied for food stamps or shelter. They have, but have in most cases been rejected by the present Draconian system.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

4. I'm pretty certain that homeless can't collect any govt program's help

because they have no verifiable address. It's rediculous.

[theHandpuppet]

10. Perhaps this quote would have struck a chord with her...

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

Certainly even the most clueless would recognize the words of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.

[0007]

16. ...that why Xmas is just a joke. Where is humanity? Singing

songs of love and peace and goodwill toward men? Our own backyard is the product of greed and folks like "junior the great"

[bones_7672]

5. And who's in charge in L.A. County?? It's NOT the REPUBS. n/t

[struggle4progress]

6. "Let them eat cake!" A Brave New Idea from the Ownership Society.

[talk hard]

7. But don't forget the good news!

Sales on luxury items are up this holiday season.

The economy is on the march.

Right over our poor.

Hey wait. Didn't jesus feed the poor?

[jdots]

8. Muffy and i have such a hard time stepping over the homeless

those ragamuffins are always near the valet parking when we go to our favorite celebrity resteraunt.
Just drive into Hollywood to see people sleeping under bridges,if you go down to the skid you will see whole famillys that have been homeless for years because a shitty appartment that was 150 $ a month is 1000 $ minimum wage is a joke if you live anywhere in this country. Hunger can you say Ronny Regan ? It's feast or famine in the land of Christian morals, they call me a socialist because I know they don't give a shit about anything but thier little comfort zone.......I want Rove homeless and hungry .I want my country back.

[Poppyseedman]

9. looking at the methodology reports

I wish people would be honest in their reporting.

What the methodology actually looks at is "food insecurity"

Is anybody really going to believe that 62% of of people eligible for food stamps in L.A. County are not getting them???

1,036,544 out of 1,674,599

http://www.cfpa.net/2004CountyProfile/2004CountyProfile/County%20Profile%20PDF%20Files/2004CountyProfile.pdf

Their numbers are based on 200 % of the national poverty line for L.A. which is about 38K a year for a family of four.

Hunger is a serious problem, making shit up doesn't help or solve the problem

[theHandpuppet]

11. "Food Insecurity" as defined by the March 2004 LAPH report

The term "Food Insecurity" as defined by the LA Public Health report includes two categories: Food Insecurity WITHOUT Hunger and Food Insecurity WITH Hunger. I agree that without some clarification the numbers can be misleading, but the term "food insecurity" does not exclude the hungry and the numbers in the latter category are still abysmal.


The URL was too long to post here but this was the reference: the March 2004 report from www.lapublichealth.org/ which can be viewed either as PDF or in HTML version.

[Poppyseedman]

13. That's my point about misleading numbers

Tell us what the real numbers are so real solutions can be addressed.

Bottom line is:
Tell the federal government 1,000,000 people are not getting food stamps in L.A. county alone and we need help. They will tell you to go fly a kite and tell that tall story to someone who will listen.

Tell them 300,000 people need help applying, you might get someone to pay attention.

[bleedingheart]

15. actually I think they make it hard to apply or find out about programs

because if all the people who were eligible for government programs were actually enrolled it would shock the nation.

By the way I know this from personal experience...my cousin was diagnosed with Lupus and unable to work; she had that she qualified for programs to help her get her meds and other necessities. My mom had to help her out but now she is doing much better with a little bit of help.

[Massachusetts]

12. Bu$hco philosophy

"Let them eat cake":mad:

[bufffbison]

14. I would hate to see how many children are hungry in LA