American families facing hard times

As more and more single parents and elderly struggling to make ends meet fall victim to the national credit crisis, many families also having to deal with the issue of substance abuse or physical illness are literally on the verge of becoming homeless.

The effects of a troubled economy have compounded the insecurity many families are experiencing from all economic backgrounds - and the signs are everywhere.

In a report recently released by the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, a fast-growing number of people age 50-64 are now using homeless services.

Consumer bankruptcies are up 29.2 percent nationally and 35.2 percent in Illinois.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository has reported a 20 percent increase in the number of people being served, due in part to the rising cost of fuel and food prices. And local foreclosures have increased 1.4 percent from August to September from Chicago-area homes totaling 5,093 - mostly on the city's Southside.

But where are all these people going?

Many landlords are losing their property, and although the Illinois Legislature recently passed a new law to protect tenants from eviction due to foreclosure, low-income renters unaware of their rights, may end up on the street anyway.

What America really needs is not a bailout for Wall Street, but a hand-up for families suffering from hardship-losses.

The government should give $700 billion in stimulus checks to American families who need it now, instead of spending time debating whether to pass a bill that won't save people from losing their homes tomorrow.

William J. Booker

Chicago