LA CAN: There’s Hunger in Skid Row

The Los Angeles Community Action Network, a nonprofit advocacy group, released a study that reports there is rampant hunger in the Skid Row (Central City East) area of Los Angeles. This, of course, is not surprising. Where there is homelessness, there is hunger.

The LA CAN volunteers surveyed nearly 200 people who are homeless on the streets. Here are some of the facts from their survey:

• 60 percent of respondents don’t get enough fresh fruits or vegetables on a daily basis.

• 50% of those with housing rely on charitable donations of food for one or two meals a day, while most homeless people count on donated food for all of their meals.

• Incidences of medical conditions tied to diet—including diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension—were higher than usual for respondents.

• 40% of respondents reported that they did not use food stamps, including some who didn’t realize they were eligible.

• 25% said they have been discriminated against while attempting to enter retail stores or restaurants because they are—or appear to be—homeless.

• Many residents of low-rent hotels in the area cannot prepare their own meals because they lack kitchen facilities, storage space and refrigerators.

Here is an article about the survey.