Hunger in America 2006

Hunger in America is the nation’s most comprehensive guide to national and state facts on domestic hunger and poverty. It is issued by America’s Second Harvest.

• Majority of pantries, kitchens, and shelters reported increases in the number of clients served since 2001.
• 67% of pantries, 52% of kitchens, and 70% of shelters reported increases in the number of clients.

 

• 262,000 estimated different people served annually compared to 197,674 in 2001 – a 32% increase.

Study changed the definition of “different users” or “newcomers.” The 2005 study attempted to more accurately identify those who had not used a food pantry in the previous 12 months.

• Over one-third of the clients served are less than 18 years old.
• 37% of individuals served through the North Texas Food Bank are under 18 years old.
• This represents an increase from 28.1% in 2001.

 

• Clients report having to choose between paying for food or other necessities.
• 51% of clients must choose between food or paying utilities,
• 46% of clients must choose between food or paying rent or mortgage payments,
• 39% of clients must choose between paying for food or medicine or medial care.

• Volunteers in local organizations are crucial to the successful distribution of food in the region served by the North Texas Food Bank.
• 92% of food pantries, 75% of food kitchens and 80% of shelters use volunteers.
• 52% of food pantries have no paid staff and therefore rely entirely on volunteers.

 

• The majority of food pantries and kitchens are run by faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious organizations.
• 70% of pantries, 54% of kitchens and 44% of shelters are run by faith-based agencies.

• 76% of households served have incomes below the official poverty level.

 

• Many clients are “food insecure”1
• 81% of all client households are “food insecure”.
• Among client households with children, 76% are “food insecure” and 31% are experiencing hunger.

1.  Households are classified as food secure, food insecure without hunger, or food insecure with hunger based on the number of food-insecure conditions reported. Households are classified as food insecure with hunger if their reported food-insecure conditions suggest that one or more household members was hungry at some time during the year because the household could not afford enough food. Households with children are further classified by whether any children were hungry at any time during the year because of the household's lack of money and other resources for food. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Measuring U.S. Household Food Security, Amber Waves, April 2005.

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