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National Prevalence
- Nearly one in eight US households do not have access to enough food to meet their basic needs. Over 38 million people live in these food-insecure households, including 13.9 million children.
- More than ten million people live in households that go hungry; close to one-third of these are children.
- Over 40% of low-income children live in households that are hungry or at risk of hunger. One-third of female-headed households and more than 20% of Black and Hispanic households are uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the basic needs of their members because of insufficient money to buy food.
Emergency Food Assistance
- In 2001, more than 23 million Americans sought emergency food assistance from food banks, church pantries, soup kitchens, meal sites, and shelters. On a monthly basis, this is 6 million more low-income people than are enrolled in the Food Stamp Program.
- Between 2001 and 2002, requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 19% in American cities, with 48% of requests coming from families with children.
- Children make up nearly 40% of all emergency food clients. Another 20% are elderly Americans. Nearly 40% of all households served by food banks include someone who is working.
Impact
- Recent research indicates that even mild undernutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth may lead to reductions in physical growth and affect brain development.
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