Amidst the various New Year and Christmas celebrations, it was hard not to notice some big changes between 2007 and 2008.

There were fewer stores to shop at. There were over half a million more unemployed professionals this year. Less students packed for college and more people paid rising utility bills instead of buying gifts. To top things off, lines at food pantries have doubled in some cities.

Charities have been hit the hardest and are the most forgotten victim of this economic disaster. This year, local charities in cities across America have noticed that more people are lining up for food. Unfortunately, donations aren’t keeping up with the demand as less people can afford to barely feed themselves. In fact, there was a 30% rise in food requests in comparison to last year. Since last year, donations have barely stayed steady as more people are laid off and financially strapped.

The most frustrating part for some charities is the lack of follow through by the government. For some charities, they have approved government programs in place to deliver food and feed homeless populations. The only problem is that their programs have not been funded the promised $15 million dollars. Without money, these programs can’t do anything. Perhaps Ford and GM CEOs could join together and donate some of their salary to such programs.

Catholic Charities USA is meeting with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team to ask for an emergency fund for food charities. Such a request is not a “bail out” like the car industries are asking from the government. Such a request, to me, is a “social responsibility” that everyone must participate in to ensure no one dies of starvation in the richest country in the world.

It’s sad when the government can hand over billions to companies who have over-charged America for years so that they can keep their comfortable lifestyles, but they can’t fund a $15 million dollar program that will feed a half-million hungry across America. With social support from programs such as these, many homeless and underprivileged populations could focus on an education, perform well at their jobs and gain self-reliance.

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This year it’s become harder than ever for charities and non-profit agencies to assist low income families just a paycheck away from extreme poverty. While the government is busy stuffing the pockets of corporate CEOs who masterminded the mortgage collapse in America, thousands of homes are being lost and many more young families becoming homeless. A major challenge of poverty prevention is education and job training. Everyone knows that proper job training and education costs have risen exponentially in the past two decades. In the mean time, our wages and earnings in America have remained stagnant at best.

Today the HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Program received $49 million more dollars in grants that provide help to qualifying families. The funds will go to agencies to provide job training, childcare, counseling, transportation and job placement for low income recipients. In return, the head of the household must receive a job and no longer receive welfare benefits by the end of the fifth year in the program.

Furthermore, this program encourages home ownership and self-sufficiency. As the families’ income rises, a percentage of the raise is kept in an interest bearing Escrow account. At the end of the fifth year, if they no longer receive welfare benefits, they can receive the Escrow amount in one lump sum. They also receive home ownership counseling and assistance to help buy a home and maintain self-sufficiency.

This program gives low income families job training and opportunities they would not have access to on their own. It also gives them a goal in the near future they can work towards. As more low income families become self-sufficient, neighborhoods and communities can rebuild from this tough economic year.

For more information, you can visit HUD to view the final press release.