Centers see increased needs
By Randy Petersen, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
She applied to fill the need.
More than 20 years later, she's still filling needs as a family development specialist at the Marie Tallarice Community Action Center in
Throughout the years, she said she's seen changes, but the needs are always there.
"The needs are the same," she said. "They just need help more often."
At the five neighborhood centers operated by Community Action of
"We're seeing people we haven't seen before," said
While state reports show southeast
"I don't see it getting better," she said.
At
"They had a fairly decent income before, and now just can't do it," she said.
"I've had people tell me their hours have been reduced because of the health care issues coming up," she said.
The new federal health care law will require employers to provide insurance for workers who average 30 or more hours of work a week.
In addition to unemployment and reduced hours, family development specialists at the five centers reported seeing increased requests for emergency assistance based on higher prices and increased expenses.
With the cold winter and the spike in propane costs, the neighborhood centers are seeing increased interest in the energy assistance and weatherization programs.
"We're seeing more people with the rising cost of utilities," said
Varner said she's noticed an increase in the number of people seeking help from the food pantry due to price increases at area grocery stores.
"They can't get their food stamps to stretch as far," she said of people using the food pantry, which aims to items to help people stretch their food budget.
In
She said the number of people seeking help at the neighborhood center declined after a staff change, but word is out that staffing has stabilized.
"Our numbers are starting to pick back up," she said.
Regardless of the reason for the increased numbers of people visiting the Community Action neighborhood centers, the family development specialists said they try to help people make it through tough times and get back on their feet.
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