Portraits of Hunger: American Families in Crisis

• An ex-offender from Minnesota called the Hotline in desperation of finding help to pay for outstanding utility bills. He was very upset since many other agencies refuse to help him pay for his energy bills because of his criminal past. After exhausting all other possible resources, he called the Hotline, hoping someone would lead him in the right direction. After a little research, a staff member was able to give him the numbers to several non-profits in Minnesota that specialize in giving individuals with a criminal record a second chance. Non- profits such as Project Re-entry, Families and Offender United Project, and Project for Pride in Living, Inc. gave this individual hope that there were organizations that believed in helping him to cope with his living expenses despite his criminal background.
  
  
• A single mother of two children from Las Vegas, Nevada called the Hotline in search of finding food assistance for her children as well as her sick elderly mother. She explained that her family was not eligible for food stamps since she was merely two percent above the poverty line. A staff member was able to give her the telephone number to contact WIC for her three year old and her five year old. She was also referred to several food pantries and a food bank in her area that would help her to obtain immediate food. The woman also expressed that the cost of her mother's prescriptions had become overwhelming. The staff member referred her to the Nevada Division for Aging Services in Las Vegas to help with prescription assistance.
  
  
• A woman recovering from a car accident from Wichita, Kansas called the Hotline in tears. Recently disabled and unable to provide for her four children, she called the Hotline seeking help with food assistance, rental and utility assistance, and it seemed as if she simply wanted a lending ear to listen to her. A staff member recalls the woman feeling completely helpless to provide for her children since she was accustomed to working before her accident. The woman was given several numbers to food pantries, her local food stamp office, and United Way. She was also given the number to seek eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to further help her with financial assistance.
  
  
• A young father called the Hotline from Oklahoma, seeking help for himself and his pregnant girlfriend. He was currently living with his parents but was expected to move out and find an apartment once the baby was born. Being unemployed, unsure of his choices and options of ways to help his family he called the Hotline feeling hopeless. A staff member was able to refer him to HUD and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to seek housing and supplemental cash assistance. In addition, he was also given the number to WIC for his pregnant girlfriend as well as America's Jobline to seek employment and gain more independence.
  
  
• A woman from Davidson, TN called the Hotline after she was left to take care of her three grandchildren. She explained that these were very hard times for her since she was not financially equipped and ready to deal with providing for all her grandchildren's needs. Staff was able to give her information to contact TEFAP to receive monthly commodities for food as well as the number to a local Food Bank that serves her area in order for her to get immediate food. The woman also expressed a great concern for seeking health insurance for her grandchildren. A staff member referred her to the State Children's Health Insurance Program to apply for insurance her grandchildren. She was referred to United Way to assist her with rental assistance.
  
  
• A single mom from Albuquerque, NM called the Hotline seeking help to feed her family. Having recently moved from California, she was not familiar with the area or of her options for getting help. She expressed that her financial situation was so depleted that she could not afford new furniture to furnish her home and clothes for her growing children. Desperate and concerned, she called the Hotline not knowing where else to turn to. A staff member gave her several numbers to food pantries to assist her with food as well as the number to her local food stamp office. This worried mom was also provided with numbers to the Salvation Army and United Way to assist her in obtaining furniture and clothing.
  
  
• A pregnant teen from Milwaukee, Wisconsin called the Hotline with great concern for the future of her baby. She could not afford to buy nutritious food for herself and her growing baby inside her. Feeling alone and uncertain of providing for her child, she broke out in tears of stress and sorrow. She expressed the need to obtain health insurance and healthy food for herself and her baby. A staff member provided her the number to WIC and the local Medicaid number. She was also given the United Way 211 number and a local food bank in her area.
  
  
• A newly divorced woman called from Fort Wayne, Indiana in distress. She was currently unemployed and had no income to support her two teenage boys. She needed food assistance, help with utility and heating bills, and health insurance. A staff member gave her the numbers to several food pantries as well as the number to the food stamp office within her county. She was also given the number to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and United Way to assist with heating and other utility bills. The number to Medicaid was also provided to her to seek eligibility to obtain health insurance.
  
  
• A young woman had moved away from her family and was now living on her own. She moved from Tampa, FL to Lauderdale County, TN. She had been looking for a job but had no luck. She was running out of money and her EBT card from Florida was not working in Tennessee. She did not know who to contact to get her EBT card to work in her new county. Feeling that she may need someone to inform her of the steps she may have to take, a staff member gave her the number to the Florida food stamp hotline as well as the number to Lauderdale County's food stamp office.
  
  
• An 18 year old mother from Brooklyn, New York called the Hotline in with hope of finding assistance for her and her daughter.  She was recently kicked out of her mother's house and was having issues with food stamps.  Her mother refused to help her apply for food stamps which put her in a tough situation since the minimum age to apply is twenty one.  Left with few resources a staff member gave her numbers to food assistance programs.  She was also given the number to the food stamp department to seek more information about eligibility.
  
  
• A single mother of three from Wayne County, Michigan called the Hotline with hope of finding some assistance.  Her husband had left the family along with the long list of bills to be paid.  The gas had been turned off, there was no food in the house and her trailer home was going to be taken away.  A staff member gave her the numbers to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to seek immediate food as well as the numbers to the food stamp office. She was also given the number to WIC to seek financial help for her sons. She was referred to United Way and to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to seek immediate as well as long-term assistance for help with utility bills.
  
  
• An elderly woman in Hollywood, FL called the Hotline to seek eligibility for food stamps. The number for Florida food stamps was given to her. However, she called back 15 minutes later with a problem.  She still used a rotary phone and could not use any of the automated options offered by Florida Food Stamps.  A staff member offered her number to Florida Impact, an organization dedicated to reducing hunger and poverty, so that someone in her area that can help her through the process of pre-screening for food stamps.
  
  
• A veteran from Lake County, Florida called the Hotline feeling completely vulnerable and helpless after being newly divorced, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and unemployed. He broke down in tears explaining that he only had one dollar in his pocket and had no one else to turn to. A staff member referred him to a food bank in his area, several food pantries, United Way and the Salvation Army. He was also referred to free legal help in his area to aid with legal fees from the divorce.