As need increased, the level of resources available to help meet that need at emergency food assistance facilities decreased in 52 percent of the cities, increased in 35 percent, and remained the same in 13 percent. Just over half the cities surveyed said they are not able to provide an adequate quantity of food to those in need. And nearly two-thirds of the cities reported they had to decrease the quantity of food provided and/or the number of times people can come to get food assistance. An average of 16 percent of the demand for emergency food assistance is estimated to have gone unmet in the survey cities.
The survey finds that 48 percent of those requesting emergency food assistance were members of families with children and that 38 percent of adults requesting such assistance were employed.
"These are not simply statistics," said Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, who chairs the Conference's Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. "These are real people who are hungry and homeless in our cities."
Participating cities were most likely to attribute homelessness to a lack of affordable housing (21 cities), mental illness and the lack of needed services (20 cities), substance abuse and the lack of needed services (19 cities), and low-paying jobs (17 cities). The survey documents significant unmet need for shelter in cities across the nation.
The survey finds that 48 percent of those requesting emergency food assistance were members of families with children and that 38 percent of adults requesting such assistance were employed.
"These are not simply statistics," said Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, who chairs the Conference's Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. "These are real people who are hungry and homeless in our cities."
Participating cities were most likely to attribute homelessness to a lack of affordable housing (21 cities), mental illness and the lack of needed services (20 cities), substance abuse and the lack of needed services (19 cities), and low-paying jobs (17 cities). The survey documents significant unmet need for shelter in cities across the nation.