Hungry in the world's richest country

[Hannah Bell]

THE NUMBER of Americans vulnerable to hunger grew sharply in 2008 to nearly 50 million--or about one in every six men, women and children in the U.S.

The Agriculture Department's official figures show that the number of people suffering "food insecurity" last year jumped by more than one-third in just 12 months, reaching the highest level since the government began reporting this statistic a decade and a half ago.

About one-third of the 49 million people threatened with hunger were part of households that had what researchers call "very low food security"--meaning that one or more members of the household skipped meals, ate reduced portions or otherwise didn't get enough to eat at some point in the year.

The rest of those counted as "food insecure" typically ate enough, according to the report, but only by relying on cheaper or less nutritious foods, and by getting help from government programs like food stamps or from soup kitchens or food pantries.

Some of the report's details paint an even grimmer picture. For example, the number of households where children faced "very low food security" climbed faster than other categories--reaching more than half a million, an increase of nearly 60 percent over the year before.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/11/23/hungry-in-america

[sakabatou]

1. And the rich look on, saying

"Let the eat cake!"

[Ghost Dog]

2. These figures refer to 'households'.

Does anyone know whether the officially homeless, where there is literally no household, are included?

I ask because I almost never see any official figures relating specifically to this category, and I am reminded of the phrase "the homeless don't exist".

[Hannah Bell]

3. if i remember right, the agency which does this count sometimes does an experimental sample of home-

less but it's not a regular thing.

but don't quote me, i'm remembering from grad school.

[Ghost Dog]

5. Not easy data to gather. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

6. it's census. there are two food security surveys if i recall right, the other is something like

nrss but i can't remember anymore.

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/foodsecurity/cps/

[Hannah Bell]

4. dupe

[Cal Carpenter]

16. I don't know for sure about the USDA figures

but when Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest) does their Hunger Study every few years, they most certainly include the homeless. Their research is a little different but basically every food bank in their national network (which cover almost the whole country) conduct the interviews at their food distribution sites - this includes soup kitchens, shelters, and tent-city-outreach programs in addition to the emergency pantries and other social service programs.

They released the latest study earlier this year. Here's a link:

http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/hunger-in-america-2010.aspx

I did some interviews on behalf of my local food bank so I am pretty familiar with this process. It will help you get info on homeless folks in this context.

[maryf]

20. good link thanks

sharing...

[madmax]

7. Hunger in America is a horrendous problem

for which there is NO excuse.

However, it would be simpler if we started an OP with what is right with America. What do we have that other similarly developed countries don't. Where the hell do we excel. Wonder how many posts that would generate. Bet it would drop like a stone.

:rant: USA USA USA! We SUCK and will not copy other systems, methods, that have a proven track record used by other nations. Yes, I've joined the I hate America crowd.

Our children are hungry, undereducated, without health care, under supervised (parents chasing their tales to survive). I think I'm becoming a full fledged socialist.

Sorry I'm off on a rant here but, the shit just keeps on coming with no end in sight.

I'm very sorry if I offended anyone, just needed to vent a little. :rant:

Thanks for being DU :grouphug:

[LiberalLoner]

13. +1,000 for your rant. I feel the same way. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

8. KnR...literally thousands are homeless in Hawaii....cars, vans, tents, sidewalks, bridges, etc

the poor eat, sleep, live in poverty/misery.

Jobs are scarce since Gov Lingle came aboard 7 years ago...as a republican, she kept up the GOP Trend of ineptness and sheer amatuerism.

Her turn at the helm did Hawaii harm...she unable to offset revenue loss ....only cutting programs...no exciting solutions...nada

If only the poor would vote...there would be change for the better...

[billlll]

9. 143 Trillion is US wealth

Fed reserve site table L5 bott right cell

http://www.federalreserve.gov/Releases/Z1/Current/accessible/l5.htm

[dkf]

10. I wonder what the education level is of people with food insecurity.

It all starts with a decent job which you get through a decent education. Without that or highly specialized training people get paid crap.

Education education education. That is the true divide between the haves and the have nots.

[billlll]

11. nt

Nt

[laylah]

12. I can't speak for others;

however, I have a bachelor's degree in Social Work, am currently very underemployed, bring home $900 a month, and do not qualify for foodstamps because I am single. Who'd a thunk it :shrug:

Jenn

[dkf]

18. Social work is a hard area when Government funds are running out,

My aunty also got her degree in social work and landed up in bad straits. Sorry to hear about your situation.

[madmax]

15. In total agreement.

The off shoots of just all about our social problems stem from the fact that educating our children, keeping us competitive in the world market is pretty much at the bottom rung of America's priorities.

If we spent a small percentage of what goes into the military industrial complex on education instead of murder, invading countries under the premises of 'National Security' we could eliminate a host of ills and injustices we now suffer.

When I was in school each student had his/her books. There were art classes, music classes - programs designed to keep us well rounded and for those who leaned towards the art or had a talent received the chance to discover and promote it.

Again, we ourselves have put ourselves in the position we are. I say 'we' because slowly we went along with the bullshit and here we are - screwed to the max, with no end in sight.

Our problems started out as a cancerous tumor and has metastasized - stage IV - terminal. :cry:

The wingers want a revolution. Baby, I'm getting there, but it's not the type of revolution they have in mind. :mad:

[Cal Carpenter]

17. Check out post #16

There's a food security study from earlier this year that includes questions about education, I posted a link above..I haven't looked at the online report so I don't know how easy it is to navigate.

[Hannah Bell]

19. no, it's not.

[Starry Messenger]

14. recommend.

[maryf]

21. "further evidence of how badly we need a working-class movement"

K&R