FOOD INSECURITY REMAINS HIGH IN THE NATION & CONNECTICUT

Some 17.6 million households, with 49 million people, lacked access to adequate food at some point in 2012 because they didn’t have enough money or other resources to meet their basic food needs, according to a new report from USDA.  These figures on “food insecurity” are consistent with the 2011 findings; they show that the slow recovery from the recession has been very hard for low-income Americans and demonstrate the importance of maintaining SNAP. Specifically, the USDA report shows:

·   The overall rate of food insecurity, 14.5% of households, has remained fairly consistent since 2008, when levels rose — likely due to the economic downturn and rising poverty and hardship. 

·   About 7 million of the 17.6 million food insecure households in 2012 had very low food security, with household members skipping meals or taking other steps to reduce what they ate because they lacked resources. 

·   Some 21.6% of children lived in food insecure households; about half of them experienced food insecurity themselves. 

In Connecticut, USDA says that the number of Connecticut households who report they don’t have a consistent, dependable supply of food has grown by nearly 6% percent since 2000 -- to 13.4% in 2012. Nearly 5% of Connecticut households faced “very low food security,” which means that household members reduced their food intake and skipped meals.

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 9/4/13, Food Insecurity; USDA, Food Insecurity II; Connecticut Mirror, 9/6/13, Food Insecurity III