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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 8, 2005 Food is greatest priority for poor A survey by local agencies shows food demand has jumped 18.75% in two years By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Food is the most sought-after item for Jackson County’s poor, disabled and seniors, according to a survey conducted by human services agencies recently. Ed Angeletti, a manager at ACCESS Inc. of Medford who heads the 37-agency Homeless Task Force, told a group of civic leaders Monday that the demand for food has jumped 18.75 percent from 2002 to 2004. If a family needs money for medical emergencies or to pay the rent, food is often the first thing it does without, he said. "The thing about food is it is the only margin of flexibility in a family’s budget," said Angeletti. The poverty assessment, undertaken in November and December last year, is a joint effort of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Jackson and Josephine counties, the cities of Ashland and Medford and ACCESS. Advertisement "This is your community telling you what are the most critical needs in our community," said Angeletti. Thirty Southern Oregon agencies responded to the survey, which shows where services are being sent and areas where there is the most need. In 2002, 1.6 million pounds of food were delivered to families, compared to 1.9 million in 2004. In addition, the number of emergency food boxes jumped from 24,995 in 2002 to 32,658 in 2004, a 30 percent increase. In a survey of 541 clients served by various agencies, food stamps led the list of the type of assistance sought, followed by emergency food, energy, health care, housing and mental health services. The high cost of housing and medical care has hurt many families’ ability to pay for food, said Angeletti. In Jackson County, 12.5 percent of the population, or 23,750 residents, are at poverty level, defined as a family of four earning $18,850 annually. But there are many more families struggling to make ends meet, said Angeletti. ACCESS alone serves more than 45,000 people in the county, providing everything from mortgage assistance to energy assistance. Angeletti said he has seen more employed family members seeking help because their incomes can’t keep up with living expenses. In the last six months of 2003, there were 974 of these families seeking assistance compared to 1,600 in the same period in 2004. "That’s quite a jump over a one-year period," he said. Agencies involved in the survey, which included such organizations as Asante, the League of Women Voters and St. Vincent de Paul, said the most pressing needs for their clients include affordable housing, job training, mental health services, transportation, medical/dental assistance, respite care and food. Russ Levin, director of resource development at ACCESS Inc., said the survey "reminds all of us that human services don’t happen in a vacuum." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Some survey questions Thirty Southern Oregon agencies that offer human services to the poor, disabled and elderly took part in a survey recently. The survey also asked various questions of 541 clients. Following are some of the questions and answers ranked by the number of responses received: What assistance or services have you received during the last year? 1. Food stamps. 2. Emergency food. 3. Energy assistance; health care. 4. Housing. 5. Mental health. In the last year, what services or assistance were you denied? 1. Medical (including Oregon Health Plan). 2. Dental/vision. 3. Housing. 4. Transportation. 5. Cash assistance; Social Security disability. Agencies were asked: What service should be provided that is not available in this community at this time? 1. Free childcare drop-in centers. 2. Free transportation. 3. Mental health services; emergency dental; parent/child therapy; subsidized housing. 4. Respite care; foster homes; after-school programs. 5. Oregon Health Plan coverage. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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