Hunger Stats & Links

Hunger Hurts.  Many families in Hays County face untold challenges in putting food on the table for their families every day.  The following information identifies the scope and causes of hunger.

Texas ranks number ONE in the nation in the number of hungry children under the age of 18. (Source:  Child Food Insecurity in the United States:  2005-2007)

Texas ranks number TWO in the nation in the number of people who are food insecure overall. (Source:  USDA Report:  Household Food Security in the United States, 2008)

Who is hungry?

• people suffering from hard times in a slow economy
  
• people living paycheck to paycheck(over 40% of the US population)
  
• the elderly living on fixed incomes
• low income families with children
• the sick and disabled

Why are people hungry?

Failure to make a living wage

• In the Austin/San Marcos area, a family of four needs to earn $53,000 to cover basic needs like housing, food, transportation, childcare, etc
• 40% of Central Texas households do not earn this living wage

 Poverty

• 13% of school age children in Hays County live below the 2007 Federal Poverty Level
  
• 68% of the San Marcos CISD students, 48% of Hays CISD students, and 24% of Wimberley IDS students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program

Medical and prescription bills

• Texas has the highest number of uninsured people of any state in the nation - 26% of the state's population
• 34% of Capital Area Food Bank clients report having to choose between paying for food and purchasing medicines

High cost of living

• Rent in the Austin/San Marcos area is higher than any other metropolitan area in Texas
• Almost half of Capital Area Food Bank clients report having to choose between buying food and paying for utilities
  

Temporary circumstances

• Injury, accident, or illness of some kind
• Lose your job or get laid off
• Over 40% of American workers live paycheck to paycheck so unexpected circumstances can lead to catastrophe

Links to Food Banks:

Capital Area Food Bank
San Antonio Food Bank
Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest) Nation's Food Bank Network

Links to Hunger Information:

Hunger Action Center, Feeding America
Hunger in America, 2010: Central Texas Report, Capital Area Food Bank
2008 Poverty Fact Sheet, Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas

Links to United Way:

United Way of America
United Way of Hays County

Links to Hunger/Poverty Organizations:

Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas
End Hunger Network
Church World Service
CROPWALK