During the last year, requests for emergency food assistance in survey cities increased an average of 7 percent, with 74 percent of survey cities reporting an increase, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The U.S. Conference of Mayors/Sodexho Survey on Hunger and Homelessness reported data for 23 cities for the period November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006.

The annual survey, released on December 14th, also documented increased needs among families with children and elderly persons as well as insufficient resources to fully meet needs in many cities. Survey findings include:

• On average, 23 percent of the demand for emergency food assistance is estimated to have gone unmet in survey cities during the last year.

• In 26 percent of cities, emergency food assistance programs may have turned people away due to lack of resources.

• The number of families with children requesting emergency food assistance increased in 70 percent of surveyed cities.

• 48 percent of those requesting emergency food assistance were either children or their parents.

• 37 percent of adults requesting emergency food assistance were employed.

• Requests for emergency food assistance by elderly persons increased by 18 percent.

• Sixty-three percent of the cities’ emergency food assistance facilities have had to decrease the number of bags of food provided and/or the number of times people can receive food.

• In 100 percent of the cities, the families and individuals relied on emergency food assistance facilities both in emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods of time. 

Causes and Outlook

The leading causes of hunger cited in order of frequency by survey cities are: unemployment and other employment-related problems; high housing costs; poverty or lack of income; medical or health costs; mental health problems; substance abuse; utility costs; transportation costs; high child care costs; and lack of education.

Officials in 72 percent of the responding cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase during 2007, and 95 percent of them expect an increase in requests by families with children.

The annual survey demonstrates the need for a continued focus on the challenges of hunger and homelessness in the United States. With the coming reauthorization of the Farm Bill, there is an opportunity to expand the Food Stamp Program to better meet the needs of people who are struggling against hunger.

Mayor Focuses on Coming Farm Bill Reauthorization and Food Stamp Provision

During the press conference, Trenton Mayor and Conference of Mayors President Douglas H. Palmer addressed the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill and the vital need to strengthen the Food Stamp Program. "We look forward to working with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid and others so we can have this issue be one of our priorites as we move forward. We are also aware that there is going to be a reauthorization of the Farm Bill and the food stamp provision is very important. So we look at ways in which we can strengthen those programs that can help America's families have the food to eat as well as looking at homelessness,” said Palmer.

'”We know the Food Stamp Program is a great success… So we're very supportive of the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and also, within our own cities, find ways in which we can make sure that people in our cities take advantage of this wonderful program,” he added.

# # #

The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition.