ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 17, 1996 TAG: 9612170045
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Requests for emergency food and shelter in 29 major cities increased again this year, mayors said in a private survey released Monday.
But the study has good news, too: Requests for emergency housing increased by just 5 percent - the lowest growth rate in the 12 years that the U.S. Conference of Mayors has conducted the survey.
Appeals for food grew by 11 percent this year.
Some cities, such as Minneapolis, Norfolk and Philadelphia reported decreases in one or both areas. But overall, demand has increased because many cities and nonprofit providers are running out of resources.
``We must be concerned that this is occurring at a time when the national economy has been healthy for some time, when things should be going relatively well,'' said East Orange, N.J., Mayor Cardell Cooper.
The study found that:
* Requests for food aid in the 29 cities increased by 11 percent in 1996, compared with a 9 percent rise in 1995.
* Twenty-two cities reported increases in the requests for food, including Boston (50 percent), Detroit (34 percent) and Phoenix (25 percent).
* Minneapolis, Norfolk and St. Paul, Minn., reported declines in requests for food aid.
* Appeals for emergency housing increased by 5 percent, compared with an 11 percent growth rate last year.
* Emergency housing requests increased in 14 cities, including San Antonio (36 percent); Portland, Ore., (26 percent); and Charlotte, N.C., Denver, Detroit and Miami (20 percent each).
* Alexandria, Va., Minneapolis and Philadelphia posted declines in requests for emergency housing.
The other cities in the survey are: Charleston, S.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; Providence, R.I.; St. Louis; Salt Lake City; San Diego; San Francisco; Santa Monica, Calif.; Seattle; and Trenton, N.J.
Andrew Cuomo, an assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said the 5 percent growth in homelessness was a ``positive signal.'' He noted growth rates of 25 percent in 1985 and 14 percent in 1992.
``One-fifth the rate of increase of 12 years ago,'' he said. ``That is really a significant accomplishment, in my book.''
Cuomo helped released a Columbia University study last week on HUD's approach to helping the homeless, which showed that up to 14 times as many people were helped in 1995 as in 1992 under the previous administration.
The mayors' survey also found concern about the effect of billions of dollars worth of spending cuts in federal welfare programs.
``Mayors are anxious. I'm anxious,'' said Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. ``I'm not sure what's going to happen once this law goes into effect.''
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