Braking Economy Has More Working Poor Seeking Aid From Charities That Have Less To Give

Wellington, FL (AHN) - As the economy slows the people who earn the least find themselves without adequate income to cope with rising prices for food, gasoline to get to work and other neccessities. Charities are hard hit to help because rising prices and falling donations have left them with less food and money to give to people in need who are increasingly the working poor.

And more people are seeking help as the economy sours.

In Florida, charities are working hard to help out. About 60 percent of the homeless in Central Florida are women and children.

In the Tampa Bay area, business people have come to the aid of a tent city for the homeless in St. Petersburg that makes it easier for poor people to hold a job by giving them a temporary place to live. The tent city has had a waiting list, including homeless families, at various points. It was slated to close in April, but last minute donations from businessmen raised enough funding to keep it open through September.

In Georgia one charity said conditions are terrible for charities and the working poor.

Bill Bolling, the founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, told CNN that he has been through several recessions but had never seen so many working people visit food banks as are using them now. His charity donates food to 800 nonprofit groups in Georgia, CNN reported.

While some people say that all homeless people need to do is find a job, the number of companies laying off workers rose again during the first quarter of the year as the number of job openings shrank.