Orange County's Poor on Fast Track to Becoming Poorer and Other Season's Greetings

The Orange County Community Foundation released a report Thursday, which was National Philanthropy Day, showing the gap between the rich and the poor here continues to grow.

The saggy economy and rising cost of living are blamed for the challenges thousands of Orange Countians you never see on reality TV shows face in obtaining housing, education and health care.

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The nonprofit foundation relied on statistics from various studies and agencies to paint the Dickensian picture, according to an Associated Press report.

The conclusion? One in three of our 3 million people lack access to essential health care services.

Nearly half of our third graders do not read at a proficient level.

And the hits keep coming: the same day the foundation's report was released, Orange County Register columnist Frank Mickadeit revealed the Eli House will close Dec. 31 if $200,000 is not raised soon. That would throw up to 30 moms and children staying at the shelter out onto the streets.

Bah humbug!

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