More American Families Slip into Poverty

Poverty in America is skyrocketing - and at a record pace.

Maria Chavez spent her Monday morning trying to find her family's dinner at the local food pantry, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

"It's very sad," said Chavez. "I cry sometimes because I don't want to come here to get food."

She's now unemployed, but a year-and-a-half ago she was cleaning houses and providing daycare. Her husband was in construction and they had no problem feeding and clothing their kids.

"I was in the middle, I felt great," said Chavez. "Cause I said, 'oh my God, I have money. I can pay my bills. I can buy my food.'"

But thanks to the recession and slow recovery, the Chavezes and a growing number of American families are now slipping into poverty.

Record Gains for U.S. Poverty as Elections Loom

In census figures due out this week, the poverty rate is expected to jump from 13.2 percent in 2008 to almost 15 percent in 2009. That means one in seven Americans is now officially poor.

Cities with the biggest gains in poverty include Fort Myers, Fla.; Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Modesto, Calif. All were hit hard by job loss and plummeting home values.

With the unemployment rate lingering at 9.6 percent, experts say it could be hard for the newly poor to climb back to the middle class.

"It will be very difficult because the jobs they once had that paid middle income wages are likely to disappear," said Michael Stoll, economist at the University of Southern California. "It's going to take a long, hard road for those jobs to come back."

Which leaves Maria wondering how long her reversal of fortune will last.

[JayAdler1]

I congratulate and value the CBS reporter above who brought to our attention the fact that while some of us play golf and eat ribs at trendy restaurants and slip off for the weekend, there are thousands of people at the poverty level who would starve if it were not for food banks. Most of these unfortunate people are so devastated that they cannot defend themselves against poverty and illness. Trouble is I did not hear or read much about this today in the media. A couple of blurbs maybe. You see it was more important to talk about the locker room sweetheart or why alleged lunatics and puritanical advice distributing candidates are disruptive but are beginning to make a lot of sense and winning. All Americans should be talking about and doing for the indigent among us. I know that the other two topics I mentioned are more glamorous and newsworthy but instead of spending money on the robin red breasts in Kansas, our government should be more interested in people that have nothing to eat.

[hikinfool]

You told us about the increase in people below the poverty line and we all waited, and waited, for you to tell us What is the poverty line??? $10K,$50K?? One car? One HD TV? Poor reporting.

[skeezix06]

Obama says for them to hang on till things get better.

[windsurfer3030]

The republicans (Former President BUSH) created the most devastating windfall of poverty in America. If President Obama hadn't extended help with unemployment benefits & made corporations accountable for raping there own Country the people going hungry would be a lot worst. How can anyone vote for these guys or blame the current President for what is factual evidence of greed and no regard for fellow Americans. We shouldn't be living like we are in a third world Country. The ones above who blamed The President will vote again and our Countries suffering will be because of there blind ignorance. Our American Children are going hungry because you still believe in a myth a lie they gave you yrs ago to get your vote.

[karendp]

Regarding your 9/13/10 story Poverty in the U.S. My wife and I viewed your story today regarding poverty in the U.S. which was informative but the thing that stood out most in your story for the both of us was the Food Pantry depicted in Los Angeles. My God, a pile of food set outside in trash bags on concrete in the blazing sun with those in need standing in the middle of it going through it getting what they need as though they were scavengers! How unsanitary! This is the United States of America! The mayor of Los Angeles County should be ashamed as well as the Governator! This food pantry is an insult to what we know are more organized facilities in California and across the nation. For this to be showcased as a representation of a food pantry going out to viewers across the nation, including other web based media which is global, paints a sad picture as to how we treat our nations hungry. Now you know as well as I that the negative always comes across larger than the positive things that we do for one another. It?s good to know that there are operating food pantries to aid our hungry, but shame on the food pantry depicted in this story!

[karendp]

Regarding your 9/13/10 story Poverty in the U.S. My wife and I viewed your story today regarding poverty in the U.S. which was informative but the thing that stood out most in your story for the both of us was the Food Pantry depicted in Los Angeles. My God, a pile of food set outside in trash bags on concrete in the blazing sun with those in need standing in the middle of it going through it getting what they need as though they were scavengers! How unsanitary! This is the United States of America! The mayor of Los Angeles County should be ashamed as well as the Governator! This food pantry is an insult to what we know are more organized facilities in California and across the nation. For this to be showcased as a representation of a food pantry going out to viewers across the nation, including other web based media which is global, paints a sad picture as to how we treat our nations hungry. Now you know as well as I that the negative always comes across larger than the positive things that we do for one another. It?s good to know that there are operating food pantries to aid our hungry, but shame on the food pantry depicted in this story!

[rwsmith29456]

A man who detected from the Soviet Union said that the government did a great job of making everybody equal. Equally poor, that is.