Recent Posts

A Closer Look at Homelessness by Geography (National Alliance to End Homelessness, September 29, 2009)

An analysis of Continuum of Care homelessness data by the National Alliance to End Homelessness looks at the geographical distribution of homeless families, non-chronically homeless individuals, and chronically homeless individuals, and their status as sheltered or unsheltered.

Poverty Rate Increased in 2008 as Median Income Declined (U.S. Census Bureau, September, 2009)

A newly released report from the Census Bureau presents data collected in 2009 related to income, poverty and health insurance coverage. The findings reflect the impact of the current recession on American households in 2008.

The Number of People Receiving Food Assistance Continues to Rise (USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, September 4, 2009)

The monthly number of people receiving SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) has risen in almost every month since February 2007, from 26.2 million to 35.1 million in June 2009.   The number of households receiving SNAP has increased from 11.6 million to 15.9 million during the same time period. In just the past year (since June…

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Another Measure of Food Insecurity Among Children (Children’s HealthWatch, August 2009)

Data collected in the Children’s HealthWatch sample shows an increase in food insecurity among families with young children from 18.5% in 2007 to 22.6% in 2008. They also find that children who are food insecure are 30% more likely to be hospitalized, 90% more likely to be in fair or poor health, and nearly twice as likely to have iron deficiency anemia.

The New Face of Homelessness (Washington Post, August 15, 2009)

An article in the Washington Post highlights the increase in homelessness as a result of the economic downturn, which has left homeless many families and individuals who previously had steady jobs and housing.  Women now make up 81% of adults in homeless families, and tend to be younger than 30 with children under age 5. …

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A Study Funded by the USDA Finds That the School Breakfast Program is Utilized by the Most Vulnerable Children (USDA, July 2009)

Children utilizing the School Breakfast Program tend to be among the most vulnerable, yet some 38% of food insecure children do not participate. The program appears to enhance food security among families at the margin and increases the probability that low-income children will eat breakfast.