Food insecurity is climbing, says DOA study

American families are struggling to put food on the table as much as this past year, claims the Department of Agriculture. What is most troubling about recent trends in hunger in the United States, says the Department of Agriculture, is that food insecurity – at least one family member in a household not receiving enough food because of finances – is at its greatest amount since the stat became a matter of public file back in 1995. Resource for this article – U.S. hunger report indicates high levels of food insecurity by Personal Money Store.

Within the U.S., you will find about 15 % of households with food insecurity

Food insecurity status was given to 14.7 % of American homes in 2009. That is regarding 45 million individuals within 17.4 million homes. The Department of Agriculture explains that "very low food security" was the status given to one-third of those homes.

Buying food is harder with less money

Food insecure homes cited in the study typically went as least a few days per month over a seven-month period with moderate to severe food problems. Those homes run by single parents were considerably more likely to experience food security troubles than two-parent homes. African-American and Hispanic homes were more prone to food insecurity, as were households in suburbs and outlying rural areas.

What is available to food insecure homes

Not astonishingly, the vast majority of homes that qualified as food insecure according to the Department of Agriculture’s research were on some form of federal help. At least one of the following were within the households typically: The National school Lunch Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and the Supplemental Nutrition Help Program. Because of the recession, just last year there were huge gains in these programs being used. WIC grew 5.8 %, the lunch program grew 5.4 % and the Supplemental Nutrition program had an 18.7 % increase.

Seeking help for real

The reports the Department of Agriculture came out with are showing just how essential these programs are. The Obama administration is looking at getting the federal deficit down which makes these programs look quite easy to cut. These programs are for the well-being of American families USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon explained to CNN. You will find many against the programs though. These individuals would suggest that there need to be more restrictions on the use of these benefits.

Articles cited

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/US/11/15/poverty.hunger/index.html?iref=NS1

Too many children are hungry

youtube.com/watch?v=VkTPgexN8XM