Changes in Feeding America Client and Agency Characteristics: Food Insecurity

Feb 01, 2010
  • Description

Chapter 15.2 examines changes in household food security and changes in the relationship between household food security and household structure, SNAP participation and eligibility status, and trade-offs between food and other necessities. Key Findings:

  • The percentage of client households that had low food security increased from 36.9% to 39.2%.
  • The percentage of client households with seniors that had low food security increased from 35.8% to 39.9%. The corresponding increase for those with very low food security was from 16.2% to 18.8%.
  • The percentage of client households participating in SNAP that had very low food security increased from 36.3% to 38.5%. The corresponding increase for eligible nonparticipants was from 35.1% to 39.3%.
  • The percentage of client households that had to choose between paying for food and paying for medical care increased from 31.7% to 34.1%. The percentage of client households that had to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities increased from 41.5% to 46.1%. The percentage of client households that had to choose between paying for food and paying for rent or a mortgage increased from 35.0% to 39.5%.
(Excerpted from Hunger in America 2010.)