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Jan 9, 2009 6:02 pm US/Central
Struggling Families Taxing Local Outreach Programs
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Community service providers say they're seeing a huge increase in the number of families struggling to pay the bills. The people aren't homeless and have never asked for help before, but in this tight economy are having a hard time making their mortgage and paying other bills.
"I really want to work. I really want to finish school," explained Fort Worth resident Erika Rice. "But it's really hard when you don't know what's going to happen."
Rice is a single mom with three sons. One of her children requires medical aid for a bipolar condition. To add insult to injury, Rice recently lost her restaurant job.
While Rice does receive child support the incoming money means she doesn't qualify for most welfare programs.
Rice says her search for a job, allowing her the money and time to take care of her kids, has been fruitless. The mother is among a growing number of people falling into a social services grey area.
"I have a place. Just every once in a while we need a little stone to step on. And we can't find that stone and we end up being the people on the street. And they don't want to help us until we've gone down so bad that we can't bring ourselves out," Rice said of the social service system.
Outreach Manager Barbara Murph said she often gets calls asking about services because people have lost their jobs, health insurance or are low on food. Community outreach workers took just over 2,000 calls all of last year in Fort Worth, but in just the past couple of months they've already received more than 600.
Workers say the pleas for help, for something as basic as paying an electric bill, are straining the system. "Resources are getting lower. Some places have already run out of energy assistance money," Murph said. "So, we're having to go directly to energy companies to ask for assistance."
Those in need of help can call 211 to reach a statewide resource group. Fort Worth residents can call Fort Worth Community Outreach at 817-871-6200 between 8am-5pm for assistance.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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