Wealthy Morris overwhelmed by increased calls for help
Morris County, one of the nation’s top 10 most affluent counties, is seeing a rise in residents “requesting cash, food stamps, food supplies, and help in paying utility bills and rent. Some need a temporary place to live.”
This is from an article in today’s Star-Ledger. To read the full article click here.
“It’s very concerning,” said Buchanan, who said the requests for help have expanded in recent months beyond a core of lower-in come residents in the Morristown and Dover areas. “These are truck drivers coming in who can’t find work. Senior citizens who have never before requested help but can’t get by. That’s not good.”
The increased cost according to the article so far is $1.1 million.
If the Wall Street meltdown of 2008 is impacting wealthy Morris County what is happening in other counties in NJ?
The article noted that the increased demand is straining the entire county human services network.
For example, the Interfaith Food Pantry based in Morris Township is getting more requests for food from lower-middle-class families who have jobs but cannot deal with rising costs of housing and food. Pantry officials said the amount of food given out this year is 19 percent higher than last year and 23 percent higher than two years ago.
The demand for housing for the homeless is also on the rise.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Hall, executive director of Homeless Solutions, said her nonprofit agency is overwhelmed with requests for temporary housing. The organization received nearly 300 applications for placement in 12 transitional housing units it opened in Morris Township last week, she said.
“And I don’t think we’ve yet seen many people who lost homes due to foreclosures who may be living with families for the short term,” said Hall. “But I think we’ll be hearing from them soon.
