From Crain’s:

“Charities across the Chicago area are caught in a holiday-season squeeze as surging demand for their services outstrips their funding growth.

A parade of misfortunes — including higher prices for food, utilities, gasoline and rent — are forcing more Chicagoans to seek help this year. Several large local charities say donations aren’t keeping pace with the rising need for food, shelter and other services.

Calls for help are up 60% in the fourth quarter at the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, which provides money and support services to area charities. Requests for aid climbed about 20% to 10,500 in the past year at Metropolitan Family Services, which offers needy families a range of social programs.”

Read the full article online at ChicagoBusiness.com.