Survey Shows Increases in Hunger and Homelessness

Hunger and homelessness are growing in major U.S. cities, according to a national survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors released yesterday in San Francisco.

Overall, in the 24 major cities surveyed, the demand for food grew by 12 percent and the need for shelter by 6 percent over last year, according to the Conference of Mayors' 22nd annual Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. Cities surveyed include some of the largest in the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia.

The survey also found that evacuees from hurricanes Katrina and Rita have not had a significant strain on resources in the cities surveyed, although officials in those cities worry that "a lack of federal commitment to the evacuees" may eventually have an impact on their resources devoted to the hungry and the homeless.

-- Evelyn Nieves