49 PERCENT OF AGENCIES RATIONED FOOD IN '97.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Forty-nine percent of the food-assistance agencies in Ventura County ran low on food and had to ration in 1997, according to a survey released Tuesday by FOOD Share.

FOOD Share estimated it would need to nearly double the more than 6 million pounds of food it takes in every year to make up for the deficiencies.

The survey produced some surprises, even for people who deal with hunger issues every day.

For example, Ventura County has a median income of $63,000, but of those clients surveyed, 66 percent had annual incomes of less than $10,000, said Jim Mangis, executive director of FOOD Share, an umbrella agency that supplies food to organizations that serve the needy.

``To me that really puts it in perspective why these folks need food,'' said Mangis.

The survey surveyed the 160 agencies that are served by the Ventura County food bank in 1997 and received responses from 117. Surveyors also conducted interviews with 408 clients of emergency food programs.

The survey showed that 29 percent of client households have had to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and buying food.

The survey dispelled the myth that the people who require food assistance are simply transients. More than 75 percent of the people surveyed have lived in Ventura County for more than five years.

``They really are our neighbors,'' Mangis said.

Surveyors were surprised to learn that aside from Social Security, fewer than 6 percent of people were on any form of welfare assistance programs. That percentage likely has dropped, Mangis said, because the federal cuts in welfare programs went into effect after the survey was complete.

``So few of the people we are helping are getting government assistance,'' Mangis said.

For some, seniors especially, it may be a matter of pride, Mangis said. Others simply might not know what assistance programs are available or how to take advantage of them.

``They just don't get plugged into that system,'' Mangis said. ``The best form of assistance is good-paying jobs that allow people to live in dignity.''

The survey also revealed information about the agencies that are served by FOOD Share.

Of the 117 agencies that responded, 43 percent said that they rely on FOOD Share for 80 percent or more of their food. Half operated on annual budgets of less than $7,216 and relied on an average of 112 volunteers.

``This truly is a volunteer network of people helping the community,'' Mangis said.

The survey showed that of those people serve by FOOD Share agencies:

69 percent are women.

44 percent are Latino, 42 percent are white and 7 percent are African-American.

66 percent have an annual household income of less than $10,000.

14 percent are homeless.

36 percent are single-parent households.

77 percent rely on FOOD Share agencies and the government as their sole sources of food.

84 percent have no health insurance.