The New Grapes of Wrath

The LA Times reports: A guide for the newly poor.

If you're eating three meals today and have a roof over your head, you've probably never heard of the 211 service.

It's like 411 or 911, except you use it when you're in such financial distress that you don't have enough money for food or perhaps even for a place to live.

In this economic climate, those conditions can arise alarmingly quickly.

"We have households that six months ago made $70,000, $80,000," said Michael Flood, chief executive of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, "and then the bottom falls out."

Denial is common. Michelle Vu took a call from a woman in Hollywood who had lost her job, leading to the eventual loss of her home. For the last four nights the woman had slept in her car.

"I told her about shelters where I could possibly find a place for her," Vu said. "She said she didn't want that because shelters are for people who are homeless."

It's not exactly fuckin' Ma Joad and the Grapes of Wrath, is it now? You can call 211.

Wonder whether Ma Joad (that tarty bitch!) would've called 211.

And Rose, Rose of Sharon, after having lost Rosemary's Baby, wonder if she would've breastfed the hungry man, or said, "Hey dude, you'd better call 211."

Yo, don't go. Don't be a bo. Call 211.