U.S. Hunger Declines, But Too Many People Are Still Struggling
Washington, D.C. – New data released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that 11.1 percent of U.S. households struggled with hunger in 2018. This is the seventh year in a row of decline in the number of Americans experiencing hunger. We are finally back to where we were before the Great Recession.
“Bread for the World celebrates this progress against hunger,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “It is due to low unemployment, combined with the fact that Congress has repeatedly backed away from cutting safety-net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.”
The USDA’s annual report, “Household Food Security in the United States in 2018,” shows that 37.2 million Americans, including 11.2 million children, lived at risk of hunger in 2018.
While food insecurity among all households, and households with children in particular, declined significantly over the past two years, African American households did not see any gains over this time period. In fact, 21.2 percent of African Americans and 16.2 percent of Latinos are struggling with hunger.
“The advocacy of Bread for the World’s members across the country has helped to protect safety-net programs,” said Beckmann. “Advocates also need to push for policies that challenge structural racism and gender inequity, repair our broken immigration system, and improve job opportunities to ensure that all Americans are participating in the recovery.”
Last week, Bread for the World released its 2019 Hunger Report, “Back to Basics: How to End Hunger by 2030,” which shows how advocacy and citizen engagement can build the political will to end hunger both in the U.S. and around the world.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues
Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.
For Faith
The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.