Local homeless shelter and food bank seeing more people because of inflation

The Sister Jose Women’s Center is a lifeline for Connors, who has been homeless for the past few months.

“It’s exciting. It opens so many doors,” she said.

However, behind that smile, emotions such as anxiety and depression are mixed.

It was his first time being homeless, and it was a tough experience.

“I couldn’t afford a lot of food. I didn’t have a car. I did,” said Connors.

After being unable to pay the rent, her 14-year-old son moved in with his father.

“It’s very difficult. It’s very difficult. My son and I got along very well,” Connors said.

Jean Fedigan, founder of the Sister Jose Women’s Center, said 42 women could sleep overnight in the shelter.

She said that at the end of last year and early this year, due to inflation, they were full and had to turn down several women every day.

She said the age group they see the most is the elderly.

But it’s not just places like shelters that are affected by inflation. It is also a place like a food bank.

Tom McKinney, CEO of Interfaith Community Service’s food banks, said 50 percent more people are coming to the food banks than last year.

He said they were serving at least 150 people in three hours and said they were spending more on products than last year because of inflation.

Just this year, they spent about $20,000 to $30,000 more than last year.

Meat products, such as poultry, have risen the most.

“Often they donate, but not in the amounts needed,” says McKinney.

As for donations, he said there is a need for two to three times the current donations.

“We are still accepting donations that are about the same or more than last year,” he said.

Connors said it’s this kind of service that gives hope to those in her situation.

“When you get out of this low, you know you actually have a future,” she said.

—-