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epa01865574 People seeking jobs or unemployment benefits wait in the lobby of the Employment Development Department office in Calexico, California, USA, 14 September 2009. 15 September 2009 marked the first anniversary of the collapse of US investment bank, Lehman Brothers, the largest bankruptcy in US history, and the beginning of a deep economic and financial crisis. Situated on California's southern border with Mexico, the Imperial Valley area is one of the US regions most hard hit by the down swing in the economy. Predominately Hispanic and heavily dependent on seasonal agriculture, the Imperial Valley area has one of the nation's highest rate of unemployment. A bad economy, shifting trends in agriculture and the current fall in the housing market has left many people without work and facing foreclosure on their homes. Entire construction sites destined for housing development lay empty and open, and other areas homes half way built after building ground to a halt. Combination key locks, often indicating a foreclosed home, can be found throughout many newer neighborhoods, where homes were rapidly built and then lost as the economy went into decline. Social services agencies, food banks and even churches have seen a steady rise in demand as many people apply for unemployment, receive donated food or seek spiritual refugee. A local store of the Salvation Army has seen a spike in donated house hold items as people either leave their homes or downsize to make room for relatives or smaller apartments to rent. EPA/DAVID MAUNG