Hunger Facts
In March 2009, Food Gatherers released
results of a recent Food Security Study conducted in Washtenaw
County. For details and an executive summary, please visit our
"What's New" page.
Food Gatherers is participating in Feeding America's "Hunger
in America 2009" Hunger Study. Food Banks around the country
are currently collecting data which will be compiled and shared
in early 2010.
 FG
Hunger Facts 10-08 PDF
National Hunger Facts
POVERTY IN AMERICA
- The official poverty rate in 2007 was 12.5% of the total
US population, an increase from 2002.
- 13.3 million children in the US live in poverty.
- In 2007, 37.3 million people were living below the federal
poverty threshold ($16,705 for a family of three with two children).
This means there are now 2.7 million more Americans living in
poverty than in 2002.
- Hunger in the United States has increased by more than 18%
since 1997.
- On average, Food Stamp benefits for a month only last 2.5
weeks.
HIGH NEED FOR FOOD
More individuals and families are in need of food assistance
in recent years due to increasing costs of heating oil, gasoline,
and rent. These increases cause people to cut down on their food
budget in order to make ends meet. At the same time, there is
a drop in available food assistance from the US Department of
Agriculture commodities program and a decrease in donations from
supermarkets related to their improved inventory tracking systems.
In 2007, major US cities reported an increase in demand for emergency
food assistance from households with children, individuals, elderly,
and people who are employed.
WHO RECEIVES EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE IN AMERICA?
Feeding America (the nation's food bank network) partners with
local food banks, pantries, and meal programs to serve a broad
cross-section of households in America. The Feeding America network
serves an estimated 24 to 27 million unduplicated people annually.
Estimates of key characteristics include:
- 36% of households served by Feeding America’s network
include at least one employed adult.
- 36% of the members of households are children under 18 years
old.
- 8% of the members of households are children age 0 to 5 years
old.
- 10% of the members of households are elderly.
- About 40% of clients are non-Hispanic white; 38% are non-Hispanic
black, and the rest are from other racial groups. 17% are Hispanic.
- 68% have incomes below the official federal poverty level
during the previous month.
TOUGH CHOICES
- 42% of clients served by Feeding America’s network report
having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities
or heating fuel.
- 35% had to choose between paying for food and paying their
rent or mortgage.
- 32% had to choose between paying for food and paying for
medicine or medical care.
CAUSES OF HUNGER
The causes of hunger include unemployment and other employment
related issues, high housing costs, poverty/lack of income, medical
or health care costs, substance abuse, utility costs, mental health
problems, transportation costs, and limited life skills/education.
Many of these issues are linked with larger social conditions
that are often beyond the control of the individuals and families
facing hunger.
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Statewide
More than 1,083,100 different people use the Michigan food bank
network annually:
-
34% of those served by the Michigan food bank network are
children under 18 years old.
-
11% of those served are children under 5 years old.
-
8% of those served are elderly.
-
96% of those served are U.S. Citizens.
-
64% of those served are women.
-
67% of those served have at least a high school degree.
-
12% of those served are homeless.
67% of the pantries, 63% of the soup kitchens, and 60% of the
shelters reported an increase in the number of people requesting
food since 2001.
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Locally
(Washtenaw County)
Food Gatherers participated in its first national hunger study
conducted for Feeding America, the nation's food bank network.
Food Gatherers staff and volunteers conducted 300 face-to-face
interviews with clients receiving food from 84 of our partner
non-profit agencies throughout Washtenaw County. Our agency participation
rate was 95% (the national average was 75%).
HUNGER STUDY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY:
- 5,569 different people receive assistance from Food Gatherers'
network in any given week.
- 35% of the members of households served are children under
18 years old.
- 7% of the members of households are elderly.
- 41% of households include at least one employed adult.
- 66% have incomes below the federal poverty level.
- 77% of the agencies Food Gatherers serves reported that more
people need food assistance now than in 2001.
- As many as 50% more people sought food assistance from Food
Gatherers' community partners in 2007 than in 2006.
- 93% of the clients served were satisfied with the quality
of food they received.
Food Gatherers is in the midst of conducting a Washtenaw County
Food Security Study to locate areas of greatest need in order
to improve service delivery. Please check back for study findings.
TOUGH CHOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY:
- 33% of households served by Food Gatherers' network choose
between paying for food and utilities.
- 28% choose between food and housing.
- 25% choose between food and medicine.
- 27% of households reported having at least one member in poor
health.
Hunger facts are from the following sources:
US Conference of Mayors.
A Status Report of Hunger and Homelessness in America’s
Cities (2007) (http://usmayors.org/HHSurvey2007/hhsurvey07.pdf
)
Feeding America, formerly known as America's Second
Harvest. Hunger in America Study (2006) (http://www.hungerinamerica.org)
US Census Bureau. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States (2007) (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html)
Food Bank Council of Michigan. Hunger in America:
Michigan Report (2006) (http://www.fbcmich.org)
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Hunger Related Resources
Please check out the following links to learn more about
hunger issues:
http://www.feedingamerica.org
Hunger statistics and policy briefs available through Feeding
America (formerly known as America’s Second Harvest), the
national food bank network of which Food Gatherers is an affiliate.
www.feedingminds.org
Lessons that encourage teachers, students, and young people to
take action in creating a world without hunger.
www.learningtogive.org
Information for teachers and parents along with online games for
children to teach the importance of giving and volunteerism.
www.kidscanmakeadifference.org
Lessons to inspire children to end hunger and poverty in their
communities, their countries, and the world.
www.worldfooddayusa.org
Resources including activities for kids, reading list, and art
related to ending hunger around the world.
www.bread.org
Christian anti-hunger website with information on involving congregations
in hunger relief efforts.
http://nutrition.tufts.edu/
Nutrition science and policy information from Tufts University.
www.nutrition.gov
Information on nutrition, health, food assistance programs, and
menu planning from the US Department of Agriculture.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/services.htm
Food assistance programs and services administered by the US Department
of Agriculture.
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