More on the Increased Demand for Indigent Burials

As previously noted, USA today recently reported on the rising demand for publicly-funded burial services. The New York Times has a similar article reporting an increase in indigent burials:

The increase comes as governments short on cash are cutting other social service programs, with some municipalities dipping into emergency and reserve funds to help cover the costs of burials or cremations.

Kate Zezima, Indigent Burials Are on the Rise, N.Y. Times, Oct. 10, 2009.  See the article for details on specific states that report an increase, and see also my prior posts on the increase in unclaimed bodies here.