By Don Heinzman
ECM Editorial Contributor
A legislative commission to end poverty is holding hearings throughout the state. It has had testimony from the unemployed in Blaine, homeless mothers in Eagan, and a single mom in Woodbury who couldn't afford to buy furniture and a report of someone living in a car in Eden Prairie.

The commission estimates that 10 percent of people living in suburban counties do not have enough funds to make ends meet, even though most are working.

Second Harvest, the largest food bank network in Minnesota, reports that 380,000 people in Minnesota rely on food shelves and soup kitchens. Food shelves in suburban communities report they can hardly keep up with the demand as economic conditions worsen.

Food shelf users in suburban communities are strapped because they must pay higher prices for utilities and gasoline. Car expenses are a killer because they need their cars to go to work.

A national study based on 52,000 face-to-face interviews of people seeking food help, showed that 70 percent of people who need food are living below the federal poverty line and 40 percent have one working adult. The study shows that women and single parents are the biggest uses of the food shelf.

The Legislative Commission is finding there's more poverty in suburbs than people imagine. It's not concentrated and people living there don't look poor.

Sen. John Marty, co-chair, notes the commission is finding that people who are working cannot make ends meet.

The commission also is learning that in the seven Metropolitan counties, 10 percent of families do not make enough money to make ends meet.

Marty says the commission is finding some good programs in suburban communities to build on -- such as the Bridging Inc. in Roseville where people can get furniture, a program for the homeless in Dakota County, and in the Cambridge area. In Carver County, rather than jail those who can't pay child support, staff works with them to increase their earnings. In Anoka County, a Workforce Development Center helps people find jobs.

Marty says, the problem of poverty can be attacked in three areas: increase their income, reduce their costs and spend more efficiently.

Income can be increased through tax credits and by companies paying higher wages. Supporting a family of four on jobs paying $8 to $10 an hour won't cut it.

Costs can be reduced by making health care and housing more affordable.

The framework for reducing poverty will have to come from the Legislature with local communities implementing the plan.

Such a plan is in place in the Cambridge-Forest Lake-North Branch area, and it could be a model for the state. Family Pathways operates seven food pantries and has special services for seniors, youth and transportation. The agency serves communities in five counties: Isanti, Chisago, Pine, Kanebec and Mille Lacs.

The organization gets 70 percent of its funds from seven thrift stores it operates.

This same region shelters the homeless through a network of churches in a New Pathways program. Thirteen churches take turns providing homeless families a dinner, breakfast and packed lunch and shelter for the night. During the day they can go to a Day Center, a remodeled home, for shelter and professional assistance. Much of the funding comes from state and federal sources.

During this Holiday Season, make room in your hearts and in your communities for the working poor. One such family just may live next door to you.

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