FRAC Special Analysis:
2008 U.S. Conference of Mayors Survey on Hunger and Homelessness
During the last year, requests for emergency food assistance in survey cities increased an average of 18 percent, with 95 percent of survey cities reporting an increase, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The U.S. Conference of Mayors Survey on Hunger and Homelessness reported data for 25 cities from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008.
To read the full report, click here.
The cities included in the survey are: Boston, Mass.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Des Moines, Iowa; Gastonia, N.C.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; Miami, Fla.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I.; St. Paul, Minn.; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Francisco, Calif.; Santa Monica, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; and Trenton, N.J.
The annual survey, released on December 12th, also documented increased needs among families with children and elderly persons as well as insufficient resources to fully meet needs in many cities. Nearly every city said that its biggest challenge in 2009 would be coping with increased demand as a result of the weak economy and high food costs.
As more households struggle during these troubled economic times, the Food Research and Action Center urges local officials, both city and state, to increase their efforts to reach eligible families with the federal nutrition programs. FRAC also urges Congress to include a temporary boost in SNAP/Food Stamps in the economic recovery package, as well as more administrative funds to help state cope with growing caseloads.
Survey findings include:
- Twenty cities reported an increase in demand for emergency food assistance.
- Affordable housing (77 percent) and an increase in SNAP/Food Stamps (55 percent) were the top two things identified by cities that were needed to combat hunger.
- All 21 cities with available data reported an increase in the number of people requesting food assistance for the first time, with a notable increase among the number of working families seeking such assistance.
- While the demand for emergency assistance rose by an average of 18 percent, there was only a five percent increase in the quantity of food distributed.
- Rising food costs took a toll in many cities. Nine cities reported they had to make changes to the type of food they purchased because of higher food costs.
- Thirteen cities reported that food pantries had to turn people away, and 16 cities reported that food pantries were reducing the amount of food they gave to clients.
- Nineteen cities (83 percent) reported a rise in homelessness, with twelve cities citing the foreclosure crisis as a reason.
- In most cities, families (59 percent) were the majority of people requesting food assistance, followed by working individuals (41 percent) and seniors (15 percent).
