Hunger Close to Home

1. Hunger Close to Home University of Wisconsin-Extension

2. Food Security: Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life Food Insecurity: Uncertain or limited access to enough food for an active healthy life Hunger: The uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food. The recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food. Defining the terms

3. Have enough food at all times Worry, stretch, juggle Reduce quality and variety of diet Reduce food intake Food Secure Food Insecure Food Insecure w/ Hunger

4. Hunger in Wisconsin Food secure 91.0% Food insecure 9.0% 3.2% with hunger 5.8% without hunger

5. Who is most at risk in Wisconsin? 8.4% all households inner city 15% disabled household member 24% African American 30% poor 31% headed by single mother 33% percent of households food insecure

6. White • Married • Homeowner • With children • Income above 185% poverty • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Rural = 3% likelihood of being food insecure

7. White • Married • Rent • With children • Income above 185% poverty • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Rural = 8% likelihood of being food insecure

8. White • Married • Rent • With children • Income below the poverty line • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Rural = 33% likelihood of being food insecure

9. White • Single mother • Rent • With children • Income below the poverty line • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Rural = 53% likelihood of being food insecure

10. White • Single mother • Rent • With children • Income below the poverty line • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Central city = 63% likelihood of being food insecure

11. African American • Single mother • Rent • With children • Income below the poverty line • At least one worker • No elderly or disabled • Central city = 73% likelihood of being food insecure

12. What are the trends? • Food insecurity and hunger rates increased in the US between 1999-2003 • Relative to other states, Wisconsin households have become more food insecure and hungry • Increase in use of emergency food outlets (food pantries, meal sites) • Increase in use of nutrition assistance programs

13. Number of Wisconsin Food Stamp recipients October monthly totals 1995-2004 number of recipients

14. Why are people hungry? • Poverty • Limited access to food • Limited access to and participation in nutrition assistance programs

15. Poverty • Income guidelines established by the federal government determine poverty level For example in 2004, a family of four with a yearly income of $18,850 or less was consider poor • Nearly 1/3 of poor households in Wisconsin are food insecure

16. Percent in poverty 2.6 – 5.3% 5.7 – 8.0% 8.3 – 10.7% 10.9 – 15.3% 28.8%

17. How does xxx County fare?

18. Poverty status of food insecure households in Wisconsin

19. Limited access to food Transportation challenges Stores with higher prices Lack of variety in stores

20. Limited program participation

21. Barriers to participation in nutrition assistance programs Confusion or lack of awareness Difficulties applying Lack of programs

22. School Breakfast Participation

23. School Breakfast Availability

24. Do food pantries help? • Can play a key role in deterring hunger • Often depend on volunteers and donations from community • Use of pantries has become chronic

25. What do we know about food pantry clients? • 44% have at least one employed person in household • 43% have at least one child • 33% are single parents • 24% have a long-term disability or health problem

26. What is being done in xxx County to address food insecurity?

27. For more information… An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.