High Food, Gas, Housing Costs Are Squeezing Local Families

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published August 4, 2008 at 7:36 AM PDT

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

How have recent increases in the price of gas, food and housing impacted local families? Host Alan Ray speaks to Mitch Mitchell, with the San Diego Food Bank, about the recent increase in the number

Audio posted in the afternoon.

Alan Ray: With apologies to a well-known high-end grocery chain, when you're poor, there's a good chance buying food will take your "whole paycheck". Or most of it.

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That means more people need the help and services of agencies like the San Diego Food Bank. And, Food Banks are subject to most of the same cost constraints as grocery stores: increasing food inflation, dramatically increased transportation costs, and a huge increase in demand for services because the economy keeps getting worse instead of better.

Guests

J. Scofield "Scody" Hage , executive director of the San Diego Food Bank.
Mitch Mitchell , chairman of the board of directors of the San Diego Food Bank.