Hunger in Minnesota Study
Hard choices about where to spend money yield greater hunger for Minnesota's needy
By Feeding America and Mathematica Policy Research.
The sad truth about hunger is that it is a reality regardless of whether the economy is expanding or receding. Without question, though, poor economic conditions wreak particular havoc on hunger: increasing the number of individuals who are food-insecure and straining the resources of the hunger relief community. Every four years, a national, in-depth survey of hunger called Hunger in America is conducted by the Feeding America network of food banks. Hunger in America 2010, designed and analyzed by Mathematica Policy Research, pulled data from 2009 to shed light on hunger"s prevalence on a state-by-state basis.
The Hunger in America/Minnesota Study, utilizing data from Feeding America"s six member food banks (Hunger-Free Minnesota"s community partners), indicates that hunger in Minnesota has doubled over the past five years and has begun to have an impact on more children than ever before. In addition, more and more Minnesotans have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their mortgage or rent, heating and medical bills, and transportation costs. According to the study, in 2009, in the breadbasket of the wealthiest nation in the world, more than 80,000 unique (non-repeat) individuals in Minnesota sought emergency hunger relief during any given week.
Here are highlights from the Hunger in America/Minnesota Study:
Demand is on the rise
Organizations and government assistance programs that provide hunger relief are on the front lines of what could be called a hunger crisis in Minnesota and are experiencing a growing demand for food.
- 85 percent of food pantries/shelves noted an increase in the number of clients seeking emergency hunger relief over the past five years.
- 71 percent of soup kitchens reported an increase in the number of clients seeking emergency hunger relief over the past five years.
- 35 percent of shelters reported an increase in the number of clients seeking emergency hunger relief over the past five years.
- 45 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief also receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — an increase of nine percent over the past five years.
- 73 percent of households with children under the age of three seeking emergency hunger relief also participate in the Women, Infant and Children Program — a 15 percent increase over the past five years.
The face of hunger is changing
Often, it is presumed that those who are hungry are desperately poor, homeless and unemployed. While a percentage of food-insecure Minnesotans do fit this definition, the majority do not.
- 40 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief are children under the age of 18 — a five percent increase over the past five years.
- Eight percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief are children under the age of five — a two percent increase over the past five years.
- 35 percent of households seeking emergency hunger relief include at least one employed adult.
- 81 percent of households with children under the age of 18 seeking emergency hunger relief are food-insecure, meaning they are at risk of hunger — an eight percent increase.
- 41 percent of households with children under the age of 18 seeking emergency hunger relief are very food-insecure, meaning they regularly experience hunger — a 12 percent increase.
Hard choices for the hungry
While many Minnesotans enjoy the security of gainful employment and money both for necessities and discretionary spending, many others do not. A growing percentage of hungry Minnesotans, in fact, must make difficult decisions about how to spend their limited resources every single day.
- 40 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief chose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage — a 10 percent increase over the past five years.
- 41 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief chose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel — a seven percent increase over the past five years.
- 27 percent of hungry Minnesotans must choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
- 40 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief choose between paying for food and paying for transportation.
The undeniable truth
Hunger is on the rise, with devastating consequences for more children, more families, more of our neighbors than ever before, and a weakened economy is only making matters worse. With the Hunger in America/Minnesota Study, hunger"s pervasive hold on Minnesota cannot be denied.
