Weekly Policy Update

The Second Harvest Weekly Hunger Policy Update highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues. Second Harvest will use this policy update to alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them. 

PR  Newswire, USDA Report Shows that 49 Million Americans are Food Insecure
September 7, 2011
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usda-report-shows-that-49-million-americans-are-food-insecure-129389643.html
 
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported today that for the third consecutive year, 1 in 6 Americans live in households that are food insecure.

Among the nearly 49 million Americans facing hunger are more than 16 million children.  Five million households experiencing food insecurity include at least one senior.  The USDA collected the data in December, 2010.

"Behind these numbers are the faces of 49 million men, women and children who struggle to find enough to eat," said Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America. "Millions of people who are food insecure are also experiencing unemployment, which remains at historically high levels. As Congress and the Administration look for ways to reduce the federal deficit, it is more critical than ever to protect funding for nutrition programs that provide the first line of defense against hunger in America."

The USDA released a study  earlier this year, which found that provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) helped reduce food insecurity among people receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), when compared to low-income households that are not eligible for SNAP benefits.

USDA, USDA Report Outlines Food Insecurity in America Under Secretary Concannon: Cites Important Role of Nutrition Assistance Programs as U.S. Economy Recovers from Recession
September 7, 2011
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2011/09/0391.xml&contentidonly=true
 
USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced the results of USDA's Household Food Security in the United States, 2010 report that found that the percentage of very low food security declined from 5.7 percent of households in 2009 to 5.4 percent in 2010. The USDA study indicated that in 2010, 17.2 million households in America had difficulty providing enough food due to a lack of resources. The number of food insecure households in 2010 was relatively consistent with statistics released in 2008 and 2009.

"This report underscores the critical role that federal nutrition assistance programs play in helping struggling American families put food on the table until they can get back on their feet," said Concannon. "Many families receive assistance not because they want to, but because they need it as a last resort to make ends meet. As the economy continues to recover and jobs are created, we hope to see the number of families in need of nutrition assistance shrink."

Posted by David Davenport, Second Harvest Executive Director - Thursday, 09/08/11, 08:53 AM - Comments - Category: Hunger Policy