Economic crisis forces people who’ve never needed help to ask
After eviction, Sarah is just grateful for a hot shower. Leilani, once a mortgage-company manager, now can’t afford toilet paper. Eric, who used to buy his children expensive gifts, hasn’t told them that he is staying in a homeless shelter.
Sarah, Leilani and Eric are poignant examples of a new group of people caught up in the rise of homelessness across the Valley.
As foreclosures and unemployment rise, people who have never had to ask for help are turning to homeless shelters and food banks for support. Government and shelter officials expect the needs to increase as those relying on relatives and savings are forced to turn to social services.
“This is a new subgroup of homeless we’ve never seen before,” said Darlene Newsome, who runs United Methodist Outreach Ministries’ New Day Centers. “These are two-head households and white-collar workers who never dreamt they would be in this situation.”