Mayors in 21 of 25 large and medium-sized cities (including Boston & Providence) reported that requests for emergency food aid rose 7% last year. Over half of the requests (58%) were from families, 43% of those in need were employed, 21% were elderly, and 9% were homeless. Unemployment was the chief cause of hunger, followed by low wages, poverty, and high housing costs. Food pantries and emergency kitchens in every survey city had to reduce the amount of food people could get or the size of the meal they received. Facilities in 78% of these cities had to reduce the number of times a person or family could visit a food pantry each month. In two-thirds, facilities had to turn away people because of lack of resources.
Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors 12/13, Urban Hunger
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