Increase in Foreclosures Triggering Off Snaking Breadlines
The increase in foreclosures are triggering off snaking breadlines – a shame to the individuals and the society.
Lehigh Acres was one of the worst affected regions in Florida because it was dependent on construction. The first sign of trouble was garage sales and property auctions in Lehigh Acres. The families began selling off whatever they could just to survive. But there were few takers for houses and soon the place came to be dotted with vacant foreclosed houses. These became centres of crime and disease.
Thieves ripped off everything they could take and drug peddlers moved in on Prospect Avenue. In a year from 2007 to 2008 the Sheriff closed down over 100 houses where marijuana was being cultivated. 3,000 marijuana plants worth about $7 million were confiscated by the police.
In the winter of 2008 the Director of Lehigh Community Services, Charlotte Rae Nicely began to notice an increase in the number of hungry people. She ran a food pantry in a small office park. Demand started to grow and many new faces popped up coming here every week. On the other hand there was an exodus of residents.
Nicely decided to form a group to find out how the other agencies were faring and if they could coordinate their movements. This was the first step Lehigh Acres took in fighting the problem in an organized manner. The group termed itself Team Rescue. Meetings started to be held per month. The group now includes about six churches, some non-profit groups, businessmen, and county government representatives including the Sheriff’s office.
The discussions centred around the problems that followed on the heels of foreclosure and unemployment. These issues were something new in American society. On top of the agenda was Hunger! The organizations have noted an increase of 75% in demand for food. The people asking to be fed are not those who are chronically poor.
The help seekers in front of the Lutheran Church are a mixed lot comprising of people of all ages and previous income slabs. Luis Oquendo (38) comes regularly for his bread quota since the fall of 2008. His job as a construction worker has vanished. Fred Csifortos is a retiree and living on $650 per month coming from disability funds. He uses the money left over from food for his medical care. Megan Brown turned up with her smartly dressed daughters aged 2 and 4. Her husband still has a job but fearing the worst she is preparing herself for the downpour.
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