Hunger and Homelessness

 

Hunger:  In the United States there are 35.5 million men, women and children who do not always have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that is needed to lead an active and healthy life.  Of these, over 12.6 million are children, which is 17.2% of all American children.  Worldwide there are 854 million adults and children who are chronically hungry due to extreme poverty. Nearly two billion people lack food security intermittently through varying degrees of poverty.  Of this number, 820 million live in developing countries, 25 million in transitional countries, and 9 million in industrial countries. 

Homelessness: In Los Angeles County in 2007 an estimated 73,702 individuals were homeless each night, of which 15% were children under the age of 18.  Roughly 152,000 people in the county experience homelessness during the course of a year.

In Long Beach, the SCIC’s own back yard, nearly 4,000 adults and children are homeless each day and hundreds more are on the verge of homelessness according to Long Beach’s 2007 Homeless Assessment.  The reasons are varied, including lack of income, domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, and need for health care.  These issues sometimes make it difficult for homeless people to live in community shelters.  Simple tasks we take for granted, such as keeping medicine refrigerated, receiving mail, anticipating a phone call for a possible job, or even taking a shower become major problems.

Although the numbers of homeless persons varies from city to city within the South Coast region, the problems are basically the same.  As people of faith, and with the blessings we have received, we realize that these numbers are too high.  We believe that this community has the resources and the determination to ease the pain and improve access to good food, proper medicines, and adequate shelter.

Action Plan

Hunger: The committee will try to stay informed about the work of local, national and international organizations that deal with hunger and track legislative efforts to reform farm and nutrition policies in addition to advocating for better policies.  The committee will work to bring attention to local farmers markets and to disseminate information about the need for eating fresh fruits and vegetables and avoiding junk food as well as processed food in order to lessen risks of obesity and diabetes.  When the time comes to do so, the committee will also urge participation in both the Harbor Area and Long Beach CROP Hunger Walks.

Homelessness: The Social Concerns Committee will give increased attention to homelessness, surveying governmental and volunteer efforts in ten or more South Coast cities and organizing forums in support of aid to the homeless.  It will attempt to recruit one or more persons in each city to be surveyed.  The committee will also have a representative to attend meetings of the Long Beach Area Coalition for the Homelessness and study the work done on the Long Beach Plan to End Homelessness.  From what is learned from the surveys of the cities and from extensive involvement with Long Beach efforts, the committee will plan to organize forums on homelessness in the greater Long Beach and South Bay areas.

How can you help?  You can help by participating in any of the three projects described in the Action Plan for Hunger.  Help is particularly needed to survey the services provided by agencies and volunteer groups in the South Bay, Palos Verdes, Compton, Carson, Wilmington, San Pedro, Lakewood, Long Beach, Cerritos, and Seal Beach areas.  You can also help in recruiting participants in the CROP Hunger Walks and also participating yourself.  Use the links below to learn about and keep up to date on hunger and homelessness.

Resources  

Hunger

UN World Food Program

Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

Food First

Bread for the World

Hunger Action Los Angeles

Food Research and Action Center

Hunger and Food Insecurity in the United States

Oxfam America

Homelessness 

Los Angles Homeless Services Authority

Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness

Long Beach 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness  

National Coalition for the Homeless

City of Long Beach Homeless Services

Long Beach Area Coalition for the Homeless

For More Information: Email Richard Brehove or Call 310-325-7289