HOUSTON -- A church-based social service agency in West Houston says it is seeing a growing number of senior citizens asking for help because the economy is impacting the seniors’ adult children.
West Houston Assistance Ministries, Inc. (WHAM) operates a food pantry and thrift store, and provides job search and financial help to people in need. In June 2009, they said only 10 seniors came to them for help. This June, they said that number ballooned to 82 -- a 720-percent increase.
"More and more and even across other agencies that we speak to they’re experiencing that same problem," said Diana Seifert, the Director of Development for WHAM.
Seifert said many of those seniors cite the economy as the reason. While living on a fixed income, many of the seniors say their adult children have lost their jobs. Those children often turn to their retired parents for help, putting a strain on already limited finances.
"Everyone that comes through has a story and it touches our heart," said WHAM Food Pantry Supervisor Cytinya Bowers.
Joyce Bonay is a WHAM client who has received help from the agency in the past.
She and her husband live on a fixed income of disability and Social Security payments of $1,030 a month. She says WHAM has helped her resolve issues with expensive bills from power companies, and helped her survive the additional financial strain of helping her adult children and teenage grandchildren.
"They know we don’t have a lot of money," said Bonay. "But food-wise, when you got teenagers, they eat a lot."
"And don’t feel bad because you have to ask for help," Bonay said of the programs offered by WHAM. "Because true Americans, they believe in help."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 35- to 54-year-old demographic comprises nearly 40 percent of all unemployed Americans.
Click here for more information on West Houston Assistance Ministries.
