U.S Hunger Facts

One in 10 people in the U.S. lives in a household that experiences hunger or the risk of hunger. (Bread for the World)

3.1% of U.S. households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day.  (Bread for the World)

7.3% of U.S. households have lower-quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. (Bread for the World)

1/5 of American food, an estimated 130 lbs. per person ends up in landfills. 49 million people could be fed with our wasted food. (USDA)

U.S. Poverty Rate

From 2000 to 2001, the poverty rate rose to 11.7%. (U.S. Census Bureau 2002)

13.4 million (4.8%) of the population had incomes below ½ the poverty threshold. (U.S. Census Bureau 2002)

The ability to buy food is the single most important measure in determining poverty. The poverty line for a family of 4 in 2002 was $18,100. (Federal Register)

The average farm worker earns $8,000 year. (National Farm Workers)

93% of all food stamp benefits go in appropriate amounts to the right people—less than 2% go to clearly ineligible. Food stamp benefits average 81¢ per person per meal. Half of food stamp recipients leave the rolls within 9 months. (Bread for the World)

Health Care

In 2001, 240.9 million of the population had health insurance; 41.2 million did not. 62.6% were covered by employment-based health insurance. (U.S. Census Bureau 2002)

10.1 million poor people had no health insurance representing 30.7% of the poor. 8.5 million children are uninsured. (U.S. Census Bureau 2002)

Medicaid insured 13.3 million poor people in 2001. (U.S. Census Bureau 2002)

Housing

In 2001, the median monthly housing costs (rent, utilities, and garbage and trash collection) for renter occupied homes was $633. The cost of housing was 29 percent of the current income for renter occupied units in 2001. (Census Bureau 2002)

People remained homeless an average of 6 months in major cities. Single men comprised 39% of the homeless population, families with children 39%, single women 12%, unaccompanied youth 2%. It’s estimated substance abusers account for 32% of the homeless, mentally ill--23%, 10% veterans. 22 % of homeless are employed. (U.S. Conference of Mayors 12/02)

Work

In mid 2001, 1/3 of welfare leavers had full-time employment. Another 16% work part-time, but wages are low averaging $6-7.50 per hour. (Bread for the World)

Annual unemployment rate for 2001 was 4.8%, 6.742,000 people. The unemployment rate for Nov. 2002 was 6.0%, 8.5 million people. (U.S. Dept. of Labor)

Education

43% of adults receiving assistance have less than high school educations. Only those low-income workers with 2 years post secondary or vocational training have a chance to escape poverty. (Bread for the World)

1 in 6 children in rural areas lives in deep poverty, suffers from poor education and health care, especially in 6 areas—Rio Grande along US/Mexico border, Southwest, mountains of Appalachia, American Indian Reservations, Mississippi River Delta, Central Valley of California. (Save the Children – 6/2002, Reuters Report)

In 2000, 84 percent of American adults age 25 and over had at least completed high school and 26 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher, both all-time highs. (U.S. Census Bureau)