Fast Facts About Hunger and Poverty

IN THE UNITED STATES…

  • More than 50 million Americans, or 1 in 6, are food insecure.
    (U.S. Department Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States in 2011, January 2013)
  • More than 16.5 million children, or 1 in 4, are food insecure.
    (U.S. Department Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States in 2011, January 2013)

IN COLORADO…

  • 16% of survey respondents experienced food hardship in Colorado.
    (Food Research and Action Center, Food Hardship in America 2012, February 2013)
  • Based on 2011 food hardship rates, more than 815,000 Coloradans are at risk of hunger.
    (Hunger Free Colorado estimates, based on Food Research and Action Center’s research)
  • More than 23% of households with children in Colorado reported food hardship.
    (Food Research and Action Center, Food Hardship in America Households with and without Children, August 2011)
  • More than 25% of working families in Colorado do not have enough food to meet their basic needs.
    (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2011, September 2012)
  • Colorado has one of the fastest growing rates of childhood poverty in the nation. Between 2002 and 2010, the rate of child poverty increased 86% in the state.
    (Colorado Children’s Campaign, 2012 Kids Count Colorado!, April 2012)
  • Children aged 0-5 are most at risk of living in homes without enough food.
    (Colorado Children’s Campaign, 2011 Kids Count Colorado!, 2011)
  • Colorado has low participation in the major nutrition assistance programs, including:
    • Food Assistance (SNAP/ Food Stamp Program) – 51%i
    • School Breakfast Program – 46% ii  
    • Summer Food Service Program – 10.7% iii

(i U.S. Department Agriculture, Program Access Index, 2011 / ii Hunger Free Colorado estimate based on CDE data  / iii Hunger Free Colorado, 2011 Colorado Summer Nutrition Report, 2012)

  • In comparison to other states, Colorado ranks 31st in school breakfast participationi and 49th in SNAP participationii.
    (i Food Research and Action Center, School Breakfast Scorecard, February 2013 / ii U.S. Department of Agriculture, Program Access Index, 2011 )

 

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