Hunger Facts and Statistics
Hunger in America is a complicated issue. We’ve researched and compiled sources for more information on specific areas of study below.
POVERTY IN FOOD BANK OF SCM SERVICE AREA:
Check out poverty statistics, by Congressional District, click here.
According to the U.S. Census estimate, there are 861,791 individuals living in the Food Bank of South Central Michigan's service area. The number living in poverty is as follows:
| COUNTY |
POPULATION
(a) |
#
IN POVERTY |
% IN
POVERTY |
AVG. #
HOUSEHOLDS
RECEIVING SNAP
(d) |
% CHANGE |
| Barry |
59,892 |
4,311 (b) |
7.3% |
2,344 |
6.7% |
| Branch |
46,460 |
4,831 (b) |
11.2% |
2,355 |
13.3% |
| Calhoun |
139,191 |
19,117 (c) |
14.2% (c) |
10,336 |
6.7% |
| Hillsdale |
47,066 |
4,658 (b) |
10.0% (b) |
2,230 |
9.3% |
| Jackson |
163,629 |
22,744 (c) |
13.9% (c) |
8,617 |
10.3% |
| Kalamazoo |
240,536 |
37,523 (c) |
15.6% (c) |
14,481 |
10.3% |
| Lenawee |
102,033 |
9,182 (c) |
9.0% (c) |
4,012 |
14.4% |
| St. Joseph |
62,984 |
7,179 (b) |
11.5% (b) |
3,331 |
2.3% |
| TOTAL |
861,791 |
109,545 |
12.7% |
47,706 |
N/A |
Source: (a) U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, July, 2005 estimate. (b) U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Nov. 2005. (c) U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 American Community Survey. (d) Source: Economic Security Bulletin, Michigan League for Human Services, June 2007.
U.S. CENSUS DATA FOR SELECTED CITIES IN FOOD BANK OF SCM'S SERVICE AREA:
| CITY |
POPULATION |
# IN
POVERTY |
% IN
POVERTY |
| Adrian |
21,674 |
2,991 |
13.8% |
| Albion |
9,144 |
1,828 |
20.0% |
| Battle Creek |
53,827 (a) |
7,751 (a) |
14.4% (a) |
| Bronson |
2,421 |
307 |
12.7% |
| Centreville |
1,679 |
132 |
7.9% |
| Coldwater |
12,697 |
1,219 |
9.6% |
| Hastings |
7,095 |
574 |
8.1% |
| Hillsdale |
8,223 |
743 |
10.3% |
| Jackson |
35,152 (a) |
6,890 (a) |
19.6% (a) |
| Kalamazoo |
75,312 (a) |
18,300 (a) |
24.3% (a) |
| Portage |
45,679 (a) |
2,193 (a) |
4.8% (a) |
| Sturgis |
11,286 |
1,829 |
16.2% |
| Tecumseh |
8,674 |
425 |
4.9% |
| Three Rivers |
7,328 |
1,414 |
19.3% |
Source: Census 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, Profile of General Demographic Characteristics.
(a) Quickfacts, U.S. Census Bureau, updated 1-12-07.
Hunger in the U.S.
This is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service released its annual study measuring food security in the United States, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008.
The alarming results show that 1 in 6 Americans is food insecure. Even more shocking is that 1 in 4 children lives in a food-insecure household. Given the current state of the economy, it is going to take a while for these numbers to decrease.
Key highlights from the USDA study:
In 2008, 49.1 million (16.4%) Americans lived in food insecure households compared to 36.2 million (12.2%) in 2007.
In 2008, 17.2 million (14.6%) American households are food insecure compared to 13 million (11.1%) in 2007.
In 2008, 8.3 million (21%) households with children are living in food insecure households compared to 6.2 million (15.8%) in 2007.
In 2008, 16.7 million (22.5%) children are living in food insecure households compared to 12.4 million (16.9%) in 2007.
In 2008, 2.3 million (8.1%) households with seniors were living in food insecure households compared to 1.8 million (6.5%) in 2007.
The number of individuals who are food insecure increased 36% over 2007 and the number of children increased 35% over 2007.
The full report can be accessed on the USDA web site.
KIDS COUNT IN MICHIGAN 2010
The following table compares the % of children living at nutritional risk (receiving free/reduced meals) in 2009 vs. 1999. This data came from the Kids Count In Michigan 1999 through 2010 Data Books.
% children living at nutritional risk
County |
2009* |
2008* |
2007* |
2006* |
2005* |
2004* |
2003* |
2002* |
2001* |
2000* |
1999* |
Barry |
39% |
29% |
32% |
28% |
24% |
24% |
22% |
21% |
18% |
20% |
21% |
Branch |
51% |
45% |
41% |
40% |
40% |
34% |
31% |
32% |
28% |
31% |
27% |
Calhoun |
52% |
43% |
43% |
41% |
40% |
37% |
39% |
37% |
35% |
35% |
36% |
Hillsdale |
55% |
44% |
45% |
43% |
41% |
39% |
35% |
35% |
32% |
31% |
29% |
Jackson |
49% |
38% |
42% |
40% |
39% |
37% |
37% |
35% |
35% |
33% |
33% |
Kalamazoo |
45% |
39% |
40% |
37% |
36% |
35% |
35% |
31% |
33% |
32% |
31% |
Lenawee |
41% |
30% |
31% |
29% |
29% |
27% |
25% |
24% |
21% |
22% |
22% |
St. Joseph |
58% |
44% |
47% |
44% |
42% |
39% |
37% |
35% |
33% |
31% |
31% |
STATE AVERAGE |
46% |
37% |
38% |
37% |
36% |
33% |
33% |
32% |
31% |
36% |
32% |
Source: Kids Count in Michigan Data Book 2009. To access the Kids Count Data Book 2010, click here.
* we use % of children receiving free/reduced meals as an indicator of living at nutritional risk, as the eligibility for this program is based on household income.
Kids Count
is coordinated by the Michigan League for Human Services. The Data Book covers a wide variety of indicators, including economic security, child health and child safety. For a hard copy, click on the link directly below the Kids Count chart.