Hunger in Washington
· 1 in 6 people in Washington struggle with hunger.
· Since the beginning of the current recession, the number of Washington families struggling with hunger has almost doubled. From 2008 to 2011, the number of households experiencing hunger rose nearly 100% to more than 160,000 households. This is 6.1% of total households in Washington. Washington’s rate of hunger is 11th highest in the nation.
· 1.6 million low-income residents were served by the state’s emergency food network last year, which is comprised of community action programs, food banks, distributors, tribes, meal providers and other non-profit organizations and receives state and federal funding.
· The percent of Washington households reporting very low food security, where food intake was actually reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted, increased from 3.6% in 2005-2007 to 5.8% in 2007-2009, the highest rate in more than a decade.
· In the fall of 2010, multiple food banks are reporting an all-time high record number of clients. The emergency food network distributed over 130 million pounds of food statewide in 2010.
· The number of visits to food banks (visits = the first time someone uses the food bank plus any subsequent visits) went from 7.80 million in FY10 to 7.98 million in FY11, a significant increase. Interestingly, the number of new or unduplicated clients has decreased from 1.56 to 1.43 million. It appears that while some families have gotten back on their feet, those who are still struggling have a deeper need and are utilizing food banks more often. This increase in usage has put the emergency food system under a great deal of stress.
· Households with significantly higher rates of food insecurity include: lower income households, single men, African American and Hispanic households, and households with children headed by a single woman.
· About 985,000 individuals per month in Washington received food assistance through the Basic Food Program in 2010. This was a 20.6% increase from the year before. In terms of dollars distributed, Basic Food issuance (from both federal and state funds) in 2010 totaled over $1.5 billion.
· The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and the Summer Feeding Programs served over one million adults and children in Washington.
· The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, (which includes the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program) served over 315,000 state residents in 2010.
· 1 in 6 people in Washington struggle with hunger.
· As many as 400,000 children in Washington – or 25% – live in food insecure households.
· Since the beginning of the current recession, the number of Washington families struggling with hunger has almost doubled. From 2008 to 2011, the number of households experiencing hunger rose nearly 100% to more than 160,000 households. This is 6.1% of total households in Washington. Washington’s rate of hunger is 11th highest in the nation.
· 1.6 million low-income residents were served by the state’s emergency food network last year, which is comprised of community action programs, food banks, distributors, tribes, meal providers and other non-profit organizations and receives state and federal funding.
· The percent of Washington households reporting very low food security, where food intake was actually reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted, increased from 3.6% in 2005-2007 to 5.8% in 2007-2009, the highest rate in more than a decade.
· In the fall of 2010, multiple food banks are reporting an all-time high record number of clients. The emergency food network distributed over 130 million pounds of food statewide in 2010.
· The number of visits to food banks (visits = the first time someone uses the food bank plus any subsequent visits) went from 7.80 million in FY10 to 7.98 million in FY11, a significant increase. Interestingly, the number of new or unduplicated clients has decreased from 1.56 to 1.43 million. It appears that while some families have gotten back on their feet, those who are still struggling have a deeper need and are utilizing food banks more often. This increase in usage has put the emergency food system under a great deal of stress.
· Households with significantly higher rates of food insecurity include: lower income households, single men, African American and Hispanic households, and households with children headed by a single woman.
· About 985,000 individuals per month in Washington received food assistance through the Basic Food Program in 2010. This was a 20.6% increase from the year before. In terms of dollars distributed, Basic Food issuance (from both federal and state funds) in 2010 totaled over $1.5 billion.
· The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and the Summer Feeding Programs served over one million adults and children in Washington.
· The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, (which includes the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program) served over 315,000 state residents in 2010.
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