fruits and vegetables
what we do: hunger statistics

News & Information About Hunger

 

We believe these are important markers, indicating the level of need and desperation in communities across Idaho and throughout the United States continues at alarming rates.  Economic recovery is slow, and in many areas, still non-existent.  We have to work together to maintain the social fabric of our communities and ensure everyone has access to basic nutrition.  Homelessness, high medical bills & prescription costs, and prolonged unemployment take a heavy toll on the health and well-being of the most vulnerable families and individuals in our community.

  • Food Research and Action Center:  The 2010 Report on Food Hardship (released March 2011) reports on the ability of households across the United States to afford adequate food during the course of a year.  Idaho ranked 20th with more than 20% of households reporting there were times when they did not have enough money to buy food.
  • The State Department of Education:  During the 2009-2010 school year, students identified as homeless increased to 4,432 compared to 1,676 four years before.  The definition of a homeless student includes staying in a shelter, doubling up with another family in a single residence, or moving between temporary housing situations.

Blaine County School District Homeless Education Information:  http://www.blaineschools.org/Academics/Programs/StudentServices/HomelessEducation/Default.aspx

  • AARP Foundation:  Six million older Americans face hunger and each day, millions of older adults are forced to choose between buying groceries or the medivcine they need.  

Forum on Poverty, Aging & Hunger:  http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/info-2010/poverty-aging-hunger-forum.html

  • USDA Food and Nutrition Services:  The most current data (October 28, 2010) tells us that Idaho leads the nation in percentage increase in both persons and households participating in the Idaho Food Stamp Program.  

Food Stamp Program Data:  State-by-state breakdown

 

The Hunger Coalition: 2010  in Review

food dist. chart

  • We served 164,698 meals through our Mobile Food Bank Program
  • Compared to 71,897 in 2008, we distributed more than 206,000 pounds of food
  • Children 18 and under represent 45% of our clients, and of those 36% are newborn-5 years of age
  • The Backpack Club distributed 4,015 "backpacks" of food to hungry students
  • An average of 126 students per week received food assistance though our Backpack Club
  • The Lunch Connection served nearly 6,000 free meals last summer
  • We served an average of 237 children and adults through our Mobile Food Bank every week

 

 

STATISTICS ON LIVING WAGES & JOB GAP

 

In Blaine County:

  • Official unemployment rates have risen more than two percent since April 2008 reaching 9.4%.   Idaho Dept. of Labor 2008
  • Between 1999 - 2009, our population increased by 19%.
  • A single parent with two children must make $24.79 an hour ($51,042 a year) for a living wage, the amount that is needed for an individual or family to meet their basic needs. 2007 Job Gap Study
  • In order for a family of four to make a living wage, they must bring in $65,250.  This is almost three times higher than the federal poverty line. 
  • In Blaine County, minimum-wage workers must work 119 hours a week at $5.15 per hour to pay the average rent cost. National Low Income Housing Coalition 2004.
  • 450 children in Blaine County live in poverty. US Census, Small Area Income Estimates Program (SAIPE) 2008
  • 1,361, or 40% of Blaine County students, qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Blaine County School District

 

Across the State of Idaho:

  • 18% of Idaho's children live in poverty, an increase of 29% since 2000, ranking the state 23rd in the nation.  2009
  • Ranked 45th in the nation, 53% of Idaho's children are not enrolled in nursery school, pre-school or kindergarten.
  • According to the State Dept. of Education, 4,342 Idaho students were identified as homeless for the 2009-2010 school year, a substantial increase from the 2004-2005 statistic of 1,676 students.
  • In Idaho, for each job that pays at least $23.44 an hour (the amount needed for a single parent with two children) there are 12 job seekers on average. 2007 Job Gap Study
  • The average yearly wage for a woman in Idaho is $29,730. This is $14.29 per hour, and 71.7% of the average man's wages.  Idaho ranks as the 8th lowest average yearly wage for women in the country. US Census Bureau & American Community Survey 2008
  • Idaho reported a 38.8% increase in the number of persons participating in the Food Stamp program, making it #1 in the nation for food stamp usage.
  • In  March, the number of households receiving food stamp assistance rose to 86,931.

 

Throughout The Nation:

  • 1 in 4 people in a soup kitchen line is a child. School-age children who experience severe hunger, earn poorer grades and suffer higher levels of chronic illness, depression, and behavioral problems than children with no hunger. America's Second Harvest, 2003
  • The federal poverty line for a family of four is $22,350.  Research suggests that to meet their basic needs, families actually need an income of roughly twice the official poverty level or $44,700 a year to meet the basic needs of a family of four.

  • The official child poverty rate, which is a conservative measure of economic hardship, reached 20% in 2009.  Kids Count 2011, Casey Foundation. 

  • The percentage of elderly with very low food security rose from 4.7 to 10.1 percent between 2006 and 2008.  AARP Public Policy Institute

 

Additional Resources:  The Job Gap Study, 2007;   Household Food Security in the United States, 2006;  The KIDS COUNT Data Book, 2011