Need has a new face. It’s not just the usual suspects on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. Today they’re right alongside the able-bodied working poor or the victims of a weakened economy.

“We’re seeing a need particularly among people that never before found themselves needing assistance. We’re seeing a movement for what we call ‘the working poor,’” said Dave Leyland, executive director of Community Action Partnership.

News of a bad economy seems like just another headline of doom until it shows up on the local doorstep. A few years ago the poverty eligibility guidelines were raised in order to take in more of those people who fell through the cracks of services, Mr. Leyland said. That might not be enough now, he said. Agencies like his are having to serve more people with no increase in funding. That means they have to do more by way of donations in helping these agencies serve the need.

“I’m afraid (the economy) is going to break the backs of many people trying to work hard to provide for their families,” he said.

Kathryn Hernandez, associate director of the Social Welfare Board, said they’ve seen a 12 percent increase in the number of patients served over a year ago. The number of Hispanic patients has also increased, she said.

“About 5.8 percent of our patients are Hispanic, where two years ago it was 3.7 and one year go it was 4.5 percent,” she said.

Ms. Hernandez added that 92 percent of Social Welfare Board patients are between 18 and 64 years of age, with 42 percent of the those served having jobs.

“They’re either working one or two jobs and not getting any health insurance or aren’t eligible for Medicaid,” she said.

Douglas Tschauder is an attorney with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, specializing in consumer credit and financial cases. He said in the past year he’s had more people calling in with mortgage foreclosures and problems with payday loans. But most times Mr. Tschauder said he sees people in financial trouble due to loss of a job, a spouse or disability.

Garry Hammond, president and chief executive officer for the Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare, said many people living near or at poverty level don’t often eat healthful foods.

“You can’t afford to buy really healthy food because you have rent to pay, and that affects your health and also impacts your ability to find a job. It’s a vicious cycle,” he said.

Mike Hanneman is a certified financial counselor for Consumer Credit Counseling Services in St. Joseph. He said over the past few years his office has counseled between 600 and 800 clients from the St. Joseph area.

“The need for our services has grown because of the mortgage crisis, because of the credit crisis and because of the increasing need to use payday loans,” Mr. Hanneman said. “People are using payday loans much more frequently to get by from paycheck to paycheck, and my services are needed greatly.”

He said it’s going to take a lot of awareness and financial education to turn things around. People are going to have to learn to be more frugal and learn to separate their wants from their needs.

“Education is the key component, and I think that’s why Consumer credit Counseling Services is so successful. We’ve been doing this for over 50 years,” Mr. Hanneman said. “ I want people to come in and see us and talk to us when they’re having difficulties. We really can make a difference in their lives.”