Crisis center sees more families in need of help

Everyone knows the economy is bad and more Florida families are having a hard time making ends meet.

More evidence emerged this week: the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay reported an 81 percent increase in families asking for help with rent and mortgage, a 101 percent increase in requests for help with utility bills, and a 192 percent increase in help with groceries.

From October 2007 through the end of May, 1,569 families asked for help keeping the roof over their heads, up from 865 for the same period the year before; 1,535 asked for help keeping the lights on, up from 764; and the center handed out $5,025 in grocery assistance, up from $1,723.