A Campaign Ending in Despair : Greater Los Angeles United Way needs more help for its many good causes

Some homeless men who depend on the Salvation Army for an early morning meal at a Skid Row shelter will soon go hungry because charitable giving fell short this year in the Greater Los Angeles United Way campaign. Families and children are also expected to suffer because the huge charity did not make its $102-million goal for 1990-91.

A fund-raising shortfall had been expected because of the state of the economy. The recession has cost jobs and reduced payroll contributions, which are the primary sources of funding for United Way. The economic pressures also caused a number of companies to downsize; these firms did not replace workers who retired or left voluntarily. That downsizing contributed to the disparity between the dollars pledged and the dollars that came in to the charity.

But despite the early warning signs, the magnitude of the gap--$12 million--was startling. When the shortage became evident several months ago, the United Way began to alert the community agencies that depend on it for support to expect cuts in their funding.

Those cutbacks will come at a time when federal, state and local governments also face severe deficits and are cutting back. The reductions also come at a time when needs are increasing. A growing number of people are out of work. A growing number of children are in single-parent homes. A growing number of men and women are suffering from AIDS. A growing number of families are homeless. And that is only the short list of those who are in need.

The United Way had also just started the process of finding new agencies that will help it target the special needs of Latinos, Asians and African Americans. The limitation in dollars will slow the progress toward ethnic diversity.

The United Way helps 350 community agencies, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and other very worthy operations. Most of the assistance benefits families and children. In fact, as many as one in three Angelenos benefits.

But when the final allocations are made next month, the United Way will have 17% fewer dollars than meeting the goal would have provided. That will mean a lot less help for people who will have nowhere else to turn.

Although the annual campaign has ended, there is still time to give. It is never too late to help.