Elk Grove Food Bank Facing Surge In Underemployed, Possible Lease Termination
ELK GROVE (CBS13) — The Elk Grove food bank is struggling to keep up with the growing population of needy families after serving the community for decades.
The food bank says it's lease wasn't renewed, and that could now put its operations in jeopardy, forcing families to look elsewhere for help.
Crystal Hears and her husband have depended on the food bank for several years now. They both have jobs, but the young couple says it's still tough keeping food on the table.
"For us, we can work only so many hours," she said.
The staff says her family represents an expanding population of working class people who aren't unemployed, rather underemployed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nevada, California and Arizona lead the nation in underemployment.
An army of volunteers is at the food bank six days a week, providing hope to many of the underemployed—especially in the last 12 months.
"In the last year our client base has increased from 3,000 a month to almost 4,500," said Judy Sala.
Now the food bank is facing double trouble. It recently got a notice that the property owner, Jackson Properties of Sacramento, did not renew the lease. Board members say the property owners are concerned whether the building is suitable to handle the food bank's new volume.
"I think there are some concerns the clients we serve being here and the number of people who come here," said John Patterson.
Board members are still negotiating with the landlord to remain where they are, but if they need to move, they say it would take hundreds of thousands of dollars they don't have to move.