" Thank you for lending some press to this very urgent problem in our community. One is led to wonder just how much good could be done with the money in this community that builds all of these multimillion dollar church facilities that seem to be on every block in our affluent parts of town. WWJD??? "

" Good article JS. The number of poor to very poor will increase in this city as good jobs become scarcer and legal and illegal immigration increases. Lincoln has lost many good paying jobs the past 10 years and those won't easily be replaced. The growth of Omaha and the lack of leadership in Lincoln is sucking the life right out of our city and leaving it, Lincoln, an island of poverty. "

" A hand up is better than a hand-out. It is a disservice to those in need if we only give give-outs. "

" I work for one of those facilities that doesn't pay enough for basic needs. They seem to think that paying $6.00 or $7.00 an hour is generous, yet I see them drive up to our place of business in their huge SUV's and Cadallics. Now they want to take away the free meal program! This is the only meal some employees get! And no one gets benefits but the owners. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. "

" We have truly seen the cycle that poverty can create. If they get a job and finally get somewhat ahead, a car will break down, or they lose some of the supports we put in place to make them successful. If children are involved, the daycare issues of sick kids, snow days can wipe out the incomes. What is sad, many of the poor are really trying,who really do want to get ahead but right now Lincoln is geared for failure in meeting their needs. "

" Nice job taking a stab at the churches and trying to turn it into their problem, but monetary handouts won't solve the problem. Decent paying jobs will solve the problem, but to get decent paying jobs, you need to have an administration that is open to new businesses and economic growth. We haven't seen that over the last 4 years...but I'm hoping and praying, for the sake of Lincoln's poor, that the new administration will take a different direction than its predecessor. "

" The bottom line issue, as identified by Ms. Brasch, is the lack of full time employment that pays well enough for people to afford child care, and that offers affordable health insurance. Low income people do not necessarily need handouts - they need employers who are willing to pay more and offer full time employment. It is unclear whether the study showed what the average hourly wage is for the people surveyed or the average number of hours per week their employers offer them. However, it is well known that part timers often are not eligible for benefits like health insurance. Many low income individuals work several part time low wage ($7 per hour) jobs, because they cannot get full time employment. Juggling schedules for two jobs is a nightmare, not to mention coordinating child care. "

" There are many of the working poor that attend some of those churches, and receive significant support - financially, emotionally, spiritually. I know, I approve checks for single parents almost every week.Thanks, in part, to the generosity learned from Jesus, City Impact, People's City Mission, People's Healthy Clinic exist and serve our city. It's not tax dollars that brings charity to folks - it's generous individuals. "

" I would want to tell those families that the Matt Talbot Kitchen (1911 R Street) serves 2 hot meals a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They would be welcome there each and everyday. I know it doesn't solve the problem, but at least for a while it might help free up some money. "

" It is important to note that while many of the poor have run across circumstances they cannot control, many others have made bad decisions.Deadbeat fathers who dont support the mother and childern is a big contributor to poverty. I also see people on food stamps using cell phones, have expensive tatoos and piercings, and buying expensive car stereos. There are not too many employers who will pay a good wage to someone with a scorpion tatoo on his neck. If we can limit the poor by stupidy and focus our efforts on the poor who truly need it. "

" I have been among the poor, and I am waiting for the first person to say "poor people are poor because they choose to be" ... trust me as dumb as that sounds, there are people who believe it and have the guts to say it out loud. I am one of the lucky ones who was able to pretty much overcome all of that, but every single day I worry that it could happen again. My children have volunteered at Matt Talbot (and they are only kids themselves) because they remember too. I truly believe that our city is being led by too many people who have never had to deal with adversity, and therefore cannot relate to the real problems of the day to day living for the poor. Most of the poor, however, have more love in their souls than those with riches can ever imagine. God Bless to Everyone who reaches out to help. "

" I wish this article also included a survey question of how many of these people have cell phones, cable TV, etc. "

" I can only imagine how hard it would be for someone to try and raise a family making only $7 or $8 an hour. Our family makes a decent income and considered middle class. I know the struggles we face when every company is raising their rates, such LES and Aquila. And the gas is at an all time high. This affects the supermarket and the amount you spend on food. It is hard to afford for the basics even for middle class. Something needs to change to increase wages in Nebraska or companies should not be able to keep asking for increases. People can't afford it now. "

" In addition to our assistance, we need to treat the poor with love, compassion and non-judgement. It doesn't matter what the reason is for their status. The fact is they are living this reality NOW and need help NOW, not judgment. I am not one that believes we will ever get rid of poverty or understand it's root cause. It doesn't mean I dont' think it deserves study. You know, Jesus said "the poor you will have with you always". As a Christian, those are my marching orders to help out. "

" For those people who don't have a job, go get one. Laziness is no excuse. Or, enroll in some sort of higher education. I didn't have the money for college and put ever cent on loans. I now have a degree and am paying them off. There is really no excuse to be poor in my eyes. I've never had much money, and now I'm a college grad. I don't feel sorry for these people in the least. "

" As long as we continue to let people from other countries come here without education and few skill we will be paying for these very poor for the rest of our lives. If you go to these poor countries, few people are actually starving, they live worse than they do here. It would be great to end world hunger, but when you have governments that look to an other country to fix there problems we will be overrun with them. Lets pressure some of these countries to improve there own countries instead of ruining ours. "

" I have been a homeless struggling single parent and have worked hard for the past 12 years to become a still srtuggling single parent. I know first hand that poor people are in a sense penalized for trying to overcome being poor. I already teach my children to help those with even less than we have. There are other options for bettering our community and opportunities for those who need it, than "hand-outs" so many are expressing their distaste for. For all those who have never been poor, I hope God continues to bless you not to be, as it takes a stronger person to survive struggling every day. "

" We are talking about 2 types of being poor here. Compared to a lot of cities Lincoln does have a lot of resources for the poor who are not working or making very little working. There is a huge gap for the working poor though. They are the ones trying to get out and make a living, aren't making enough to live the good life here, but are making too much to qualify for assistance. They live day to day on their paycheck and any little unexpected thing like car problems or sick kids, no gas money turns into a big setback. They are trying to do the right thing but there are too many odds against them. Pretty soon having a job is a hindrance, you get more benefits and can live better on the system than you can with a job. So why have a job? Better paying jobs are part of a solution. But along with that original government assistance was designed for short term assistance to those who needed it while trying to get on their feet while starting to work. Some where along the line the system turned into something else and rewards people for not working. The system needs to be re-evaluated to help those who are trying to help themselves. Also money management skills and job training skills need to be taught to adults and kids, so that the cycle doesn't keep repeating itself. A short term help is a good thing, we all can use some help at least once in our lifetime. But handouts shouldn't replace a job for long term. Also another problem is that even in Lincoln you can make more money selling drugs or doing prostitution in one night than you can working an honest job for a week. Low income Youth see the fast money and there is no talking them into getting a regular job. Poverty is a complicated issue- there is no easy solution or one answer that fits all. But it is an issue that needs to be addressed so that the next generation has a chance of surviving. "

" Go ahead a judge the poor, judge the government and then judge yourselves. When you point your finger there are three more pointing at you. I am not poor, but have been there, and am boarderline now. Thanks to every price mentionable going up. Lincoln Heathcare systems, kitchens, and help for the poor stink. Almost as bad as the government who won't fund them like they should. You get on a waiting list, for everything, by the time they get to you hope that your here cause the processing will take months. I was on foodstamps for one month, they overpayed me $500 in stamps, then I had to pay them back for their mistake. I had no idea how hard you can get the wool over your eyes by someone trying to help. Also don't forget the people who lie on the applications to get help. I know 5 people who have. Then there's the grading system of poverty. Most are barely making it. I'd like to see some high paid gov. people live in a housing house for a month on food stamps, and minimum wage, with 2 kids to feed. I bet they couldn't make it. "

" I work for a public employer who pays just less than 40 hours as a rule to avoid paying those employees any benefits. I know of other employers who followed the same plan when allowed by law to do this. This created the "working poor". Until we MAKE out lawmakers DO something about this LOOPHOLE, watch the middle class shrink and the RICH get richer.. "

" Filling up my gas tank this past weekend made me think of when I had to get by on a $7 an hour job. I was single then and had a room mate and still struggled to get by on my own. I couldn't imagine trying to raise a family on those wages. It also amazes me how hard those people work. Those low paying jobs typically require a lot of hours on your feet, heavy labor or putting up with obnoxious customers that look down on them. For me, even today, with a family and a good paying job, we still find it a struggle to keep our heads above water too often. The seperation between the rich and poor is becoming greater all the time. I am concerned for my children. How will they ever manage to get into a home of their own unless we are in the position to help them. I don't know what the answer is to this growing problem. But every little bit does make a difference. "

" smoke and have expensive pets.... "

" My fiance's ex wife does choose her low income lifestyle. She is one of the lucky ones who does have a husband that pays her child support on time and the full amount, he also carries health insurance on the kids and pays half of her daycare expenses. She chooses to work low paying jobs in order to live off the system. He divorced her because she cannot manage money, pay bills on time, nor maintain credit or keep a checking account afloat. She is a drain on the system. She expects others to pay for the basic things she could get herself but since that is how her family gets by, it's all she's ever known. It is her decision how she spends her money. No one but her is responsible for buying cigarettes to support her vice, and alcohol to support her habit. She lives in government housing and we as a society help pay for that. Clearly she doesn't have enough money to pay her own way as far as housing and food but can scrape up enough to go to David's Nails every other weekend and get her fake nails done. I have a master's degree and a full time job and even I know how expensive that is and view it as a once in awhile treat for myself to go and get a pedicure. People do choose how to earn and spend. I work very hard and always bill paying comes first, saving money second, then fun. I have a friend with three children under twelve and she receives NO child support and now makes too much money at her job to get state assistance. Does she sit around and complain about it? No. That was her goal. If she can make it on her own with three kids, no husband and no monetary support other than what she makes, so can anyone else. Get your education, get a decent job and stop expecting others to support you. If you spend more than you make, that's a problem. Learn some self control. Stop making your excuses and expecting others to bail you out. Help yourself! "

" Hey, let's put the "poor" monkey on the right person's back, heh? What of corporations like Wal-Mart or National Research Corporation? For example, their policies of not hiring anyone over 29 hours and let the government pick up the rest of the tab in health care, food stamps, utility assistance. Gosh folks, it's the best business plan corporate America lives by. Lincoln is no different. Just the workers suffer. "

" The Journal Star only seems to print what is liberal, political correct opinions. Can't they let anothers opinion speak out against liberalism. "

" Why is this newsworthy? Are there actually people out there who don't know that being poor is difficult? "

" ANYONE, and i mean anyone needing food can go to any Food Net and receive it. The program is open 7 days per week and all over and even outside Lincoln. No income guide lines here, just a need for food and patience to stand in a line for about 20 minutes. Call them for a site: 416-6197. Or check out their website foodnetlincoln.org. NO ONE, in this city should go hungry and they do their best to make sure this is true. "

" I just want to note that people say they wonder how many of the poor have cell phones. Do you realize that a cell phone is cheaper then a house phone? I myself get help from the state. I am a single mother, however I am not lazy! I myself just like EVERY other parent want the best for my children. I work a full-time job, My children's father is NOT a dead beat dad. We can not judge another person by what they spend there money on. Regardless we as a society need to look out for our children as they are our future. By not wanting to help out just because the parents may not always make the best decissions is not helping the problem. Don't judge everyone until you have walked in their shoes... nobody is perfect, everyone has problems... rich or poor. But not wanting to help fight poverty will only make our society's problems worse. "

" You want to fix this problem? Get the liberal clowns running Lincoln out of office and put in some people who comprehend the idea that jobs help build a community. The current bozos clearly don't get that. They think handouts get rid of the problem. All handouts do is give the poor a little more money for ripple each Friday and give business another reason to overlook Lincoln. Get a city council and mayor in place who will lower taxes, cut some of these imbecilic social programs and recruit more business to the community and you'll see much of the poor problem go away. "

" For whoever is the one who posted the note with the name "Get a job or an education" Good for you, you work... you graduated, but how smart are you really? Did you take any social issues classes? I am currently in school myself, and did you know that 40% of poverty are CHILDREN who can not work. and the other majority of people in poverty work a full-time job, and put 70 plus hours in one work week, but still can not make enough money to provide for their needs? Our problem is NOT that poor people are lazy... I wonder if you believe also that women should not have equal rights as men. Maybe if women had equal rights they would make the SAME amount as men, and then be able to support their families better. But that is hard to do, when women only make 77 cents to the dollar compared to men's salaries. "

" Businesses DO NOT care whether their employees can afford proper housing, food, medical care, child care, etc. All businesses care about is profit. When businesses raise prices (utilities for example), do they care that people can't afford to pay for heat, phone, etc? Not one bit. Until business decides that employees are their biggest asset and reward them like they should, poverty will continue. It's greed plain and simple. The rich don't want to part with their precious greenbacks. MY PRECIOUS! "

" There are many reasons for being poor, and I would suggest the critics walk a mile in their shoes before judging. Many in poverty are children, who have no way to help themselves. We have hardworking relatives (who lost their family farm and home back in the ag crisis days) who live in a 5th wheel, do heavy work in their 60's, and do have a cell phone (but that is their only phone). One of them is recovering from cancer, and is trying to work as many hours as she can get in spite of it. Her employer tries to keep her hours just under "full-time" to avoid paying benefits, and his work (construction) can be seasonal. She has a degree, but just try to get a job when you're older and have a history of cancer. Many others are in similar predicaments. In other words, it's good and right to think before one criticizes, and also helps to heed the good advice "Love" posts here. "

" Lincol in lucky to have such a tireless advocate for the poor. Thanks, Beatty!!! "

" Maybe more $$$ given directly to the poor. Has that ever been done before? Oh yeah, the Hurricane Katrina victims and their Red Cross vouchers. We all know what happened there, don't we? "

" Was in line at the grocery last night behind a (non-american, immigrant, take this how you want to) woman, with 3 rug-rats in tow, buying pork rinds, ice-cream, and other junk food items, with FOOD STAMPS, and all the while she was chatting with a Blue-tooth in her ear! You can all go to he!!, I wish not one penny of my tax money went to WIC, or anything of the kind. What losers! "

" To see the ignorant and sociopathic approach taken by some on this board, with reagards to the modern plight of the poor, are not themselves capable of seeing beyond their noses. I grew up poor in Lincoln, my parents had six kids (good Catholics they be), where my father was a used car salesman, a lawn mower, a snow remover, lawn care tec. (often times, I would be assiting him in these tasks [sans selling cars] and HE would pay ME for the work); the four older boys, myself included, each had a paper route, as did my mum, delivering the Lincoln Journal Star, every day of the week, for years. I'll tell you, getting eight to fourteen year old boys up at 5:00 in the morning to wrap and lug news papers is tough going. My mother was a "house wife"; I mean, what else could she be while her six kids were sprouting into young adulthood? Eventually, as my two younger siblings were old enough to be at home by themselves, my mum started working through temp agencies, and after a couple years was able to secure permanent work with the State in one of those beautifully grey gopher-holes known as a cubicles. She is now pursuing her first degree, being well into her fifties, and she is excellent at it! My father started his own business by which he manages fairly well for himself and enjoys going camping. All of my siblings received an excellent education by going though Lincoln's Catholic school system, but they did not go based on the excellent wealth of my family (which we've not yet had); no, my sibs went because of the generosity of social programs within the Catholic system. As for myself, well, I had learning problems growing up, and so I had to go to Lincoln Public Schools, which are filled with excellent teachers who have passion for their profession and care about the future of their students. We were often on some sort of food-aid or another, such as free lunches at school, or food-net, I think we were on food stamps there for a while (but don't take my word on that). My parents are still supplementing their pantries though food-net, and why? Because it helps. Do their children look foreword to assisting them as they age? Certainly, we consider it a high honour to assist one's parents and not sequester them to an old-folks facility or to solitude within their homes. I’d like to say that growing up poor was neither a nightmare nor was it comfortable, but it was the hand that we were dealt. Sometimes there was misery, but so also was there merriment. Much merriment. Further, if fate is what you make, than that applies to all people who can make a choice in a free society: whether rich or poor, responsible adults recognize that it is ok to ask for help and, likewise, it is ok offer help and it ok to give help. Always the goal should be individual empowerment; yet, no matter long it takes, help should rendered (perhaps with system of recognition for progress). If one is incapable of feeling sympathy for the plight of the poor (or otherwise broken), as it is a plight that has always dogged man-kind, then that person has no knowledge of history and the unpleasant consequences concentrated wealth brings upon a society where the diffuse population of that nation is the intended holder of power. To consider the poor as adivents, malformations within the capitalistic system of business, is like calling a Jew a rat... Normally, one wouldn't be caught dead saying such things in this day and age, but it's not so bad when such hostility is directed towards some "inferior" group like the poor. I mean, “the poor” so often "choose" and "want" this scurrilous grind of daily living, right? In closing, take a look at the figures in the survey and consider not how piteous (or volatile if one is hostile towards the poor) it is to thus live, but consider, "How it can be possible that our great and manageable polis maintains such logistically solvable squalor, squalor which bludgeons my fellow citizen's physical, psychological and pedagogical health?" This is Lincoln Nebraska, my city, my home-town-proud and it should rise to be the best it can be through the action of its citizens. Many things can be seen though the eye of the beholder… so what do you see, ‘cause what you see is what you get; still, the figures don’t lie. . "

" 'Love thy neighbor as thy self'. We stink as a society, it is very evident by some of the comments posted, "I don't feel sorry for these people in the least." Certainly most of these people do work but they are met by issues in life that were not part of the plan - loss of a partner or job, debilitating illness, lack of skills or the finances to receive an education. A few years back it seems that they made some tax cuts to enable the rich to increase the work force? The poor have a need for phones as well as the rich - they have jobs, children, emergencies and social needs. As one poor person told me about their cable "it is the only entertainment I have", and they do work. The poor are people too. "

" I have no problem judging people by how they spend their money. I stood in line behind a young woman in sweats at Time Warner the other day. She bounced a baby on one hip, and negotiated with the clerk to pay part of her bill now to have her cable turned back on, and then promised to pay the rest when she got her next check at the end of the month. Then she asked how much it would cost her a month to get a 2nd DVR (she wasn't allowed to get the 2nd one until her bill was paid off). There is a People's Health Center for people without insurance on 27th. You can even get pain meds there if you need them, provided you can pass random drug screenings (most people don't, as my friend who works there tells me). "

" The rich gaining wealth doesn't impact the poor. Just because I get a raise at work because I do my job well, doesn't make someone homeless. Consider that wealth from stocks is only generated by those who own stocks purchasing stocks at a higher rate, driving the value up. How does that impact the homeless? It doesn't. Stop the class warefare. Lower taxes, and allow people to contribute to organizations that provide relief. The government should not be involved; this should be a community burden, but not a governmental one. "

" Cell phones are cheaper than house phones, and if you are working multiple jobs and have children to keep track of it ends up being much more convenient. As for "get yourself a degree" that is easier said than done. I came from a background where my family couldn't afford to help me out, and it has taken me seven years to complete my education. Thankfully, I had no children and no serious medical problems come up in the meantime, as I have been able to barely keep afloat (though my situation is still often very tenous). Yes, there are plenty of people who make bad financial decisions. We don't always know the facts behind every person's story though, so I wouldn't be too judgmental just because they have a piercing or a cell phone. "

" I grew up 'poor' if that's what you want to call it. My dad worked his tail off (so did my mom, but not so much after she had my youngest brother in 1983 and they both almost died). My mom was in the hospital for weeks and then...my dad got laid off. I was 6 at the time, I'm 30 now. Did my family get financial help through spaghetti feeds? NO. My dad had to find work again, and that left me, at the age of 6, tending to the home duties. I learned to cook, do laundry and clean because I had to. Back to my point, we really received no help whatsoever, but you know what? We never went hungry. My dad made sure there was always food on the table. We went without other things, like toys, fashionable clothes, vacations, etc. I do see how people spend their money today, and it's disturbing. My husband is not a deadbeat dad, in fact, he gives child support to a deadbeat MOM. How bout them apples? Yet she has several tattoos, she smokes like a chimney, but my stepson looks like an orphan because, sorry to say, the child support goes to HER. My point is that there are people that are considered 'poor' that really can make it, it's just that we have bleeding heart liberals that think the government should help them out in every way possible and that under no circumstance should they work for anything. I believe there is also the liberal mentality that if someone goes without something and the next person has it, that is just absolutely unfair. People make choices in their lives and they have to live with them. If a family is having trouble making it, STOP HAVING KIDS! I know a family that could barely get by with the parents and 2 kids...and now they have 5 kids. Stop doing the things that are putting a strain on your money. There are places you can get food. Good god, I'm 30, married, have 2 incomes and we don't even have a DVR...we still have our piece of crap VCR! People, we CAN live without all the luxuries of this earth. Get your dang priorities straight and things might be a little easier. "

" With all of the judgment about people's purchasing habits going on, it leads me to believe that those of you who are fortunate enough to be living above the poverty line have certainly never made an unnecessary or impulsive purchase on a "luxury" item such as a telephone. "

" Lincoln is about the worse place to be if your poor. I've worked with homeless and poor in another city/state and they can find jobs, but Lincoln refuses to grow job wise. If your not from UNL your nothing!! I found this out 50 years ago, and has even gotten worse. Lincoln is now a town of the college educated and rich, any others move in at your own risk!!! Not only that, there are gobs of retired people holding on by a thread, some with kids helping out. Four yrs. ago a retired person said they had money for future home repair. Today with the need of the repairs, they said they don't have the money because of esculating property taxes and expenses. This is what these out of control property taxes are doing to people who thought they had saved for retirement!! Its not only happening to the poor, its happening to once financially stable people. I give NEW clothing to the City Mission and was surprised the other day at the bags stacked from the floor to the ceiling of probably clothes. I've seen the same thing at a Goodwill place I have taken things to. The CEO of a very large company in my former state and company where I worked, was President also of that City's Goodwill and he formulated jobs for the poor and disabled and the huge big building was orderly and promoted jobs for the people daily and gave them pride. This CEO was a man who had never known poverty, yet this was his civic duty. I'm beginning to question, when I take these NEW clothing to the Mission, is it going into that huge stack of used things? I always try to explain and impress that what I've brought are NEW! Sometimes I wonder if its heard or if they care.If our country is going to dump the American citizens and hire the foreigners for less, then they will do it to the poor who can't defend themselves. "

" Stop having kids! Or don't have any in the first place unless you are financially stable! I think we all know how a child is created. It isn't hard to avoid that with a little discipline. We should be teaching about birth control. "

" Mike Honcho - I agree with B about the multimillion dollar churches going up everywhere in Lincoln. Why do man churches in Lincoln see to have "male appendage envy??" I know that money is not always the issue - BUT - if these churches in Lincoln were to give a LARGE donation which we know they are capable of to some of these agencies in town, there might not be a waiting list at a free/reduced clinic or a cut food program or only cans of peas or tomatoes available that you can't really do anything with at the Food Bank. "

" People - please realize that People's Health Center DOES have a WAITING LIST for things that are simple, easy procedures. PLUS, not EVERY medical procedure can be done at People's or at the Health Dept. Our need is to be able to hire more people at these facilites to reduce the waiting time and to get health insurance for these people so they can go to Nebraska Heart (a for-profit agency) and get that heart surgery or whatever it may be instead of having to see if they wake up the next day or get a procedure done for their children that they can't get at a free/reduced clinic. "

" To those who think that living in a high taxed state (#8 now I believe) should solve the problem just remember the old economic axiom--"No nation has ever been taxed into prosperity" "

" Sometimes it is the hand we are dealt, sometimes it is the way we play our cards. It would be a big benefit to society when the rich receive tax breaks if they would make more jobs for the poor. "

" how much have you 2 donated this past year to the poor? "

" I didn't grow up wealthy myself, but it looks like to be working poor means to have no entertainment, and to live the life of a serf to the better off. People, poverty and ignorance is always the downfall of civilizations. The more we push down our own citizens the better chance of radicalism taking hold. "

" I was behind a lady at the grocery store that was buying a large package of boneless skinless chicken with food stamps. The nerve of these people to get the most expensive cuts of meat when they could just as easily spend 49 cents per pound on thighs or livers. We live in a world we're poor means not having the latest and great TV set or video game. In my day, poor meant waiting in lines for flour and sugar. "

" Please realize that some, not all, poor people are not attractive employees. It is not just employment that is an issue, but employment for sex offenders, people with a history of drug or alcohol abuse, people with a criminal conviction, people with a history of child abuse or neglect, etc. We need more jobs that these people are not restricted from - and employers who are willing to give people a chance. "