Universities Fighting World Hunger – 2018 Summit
Today I am giving a presentation to the student participants of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit at the University of Illinois.
Attached is the presentation slides for my workshop entitled:
2017 Poverty and Food Insecurity in Coles County
In December, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest poverty data estimates which include the most detailed and reliable projections for Coles County.
I have created and posted a new page with an updated infographic.
New Coles County Poverty and Food Insecurity Data
Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest poverty data estimates which include the most detailed and reliable projections for Coles County.
I have created and posted a new page with an updated infographic.
National Hunger and Homelessness Week
I had the humbling pleasure to speak to members of the Board of Directors of Mattoon Area PADS last night for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week on November 15, 2016. I presented on food insecurity and poverty in the East Central Illinois area and used my usual maps to show the geography of poverty and food insecurity in the region.
The maps and data are available by clicking on this link.
Updates Eastern Illinois Foodbank Food Insecurity Maps and Presentation
I am speaking at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank Annual Partners Conference on May 11, 2016.
To prepare, four new food insecurity maps have been published that include the 3 new counties absorbed by the Foodbank: McLean, Dewitt and Livingston. The Foodbank now serves individuals and household in 17 counties in East-Central Illinois.
The new maps can be found here: EI Foodbank Food Insecurity Maps
The slides from my presentation are available here: EI Foodbank 2016
Latest Poverty and Food Insecurity Data
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its latest official estimates of social and economic indicators for every geographic region in the United States. These data, for the calendar year 2015, are an aggregate average for data collected from 2010-2014; because of the magnitude of data collection, these estimates always are a year behind. Nonetheless each December we receive the most reliable vital information regarding the wellbeing of communities across the nation.
For the past five years, I have used these estimates in my research to measure the incidence of poverty and the risk of food insecurity in Coles County, as well as a fourteen county region serviced by the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. Each year when I collect and analyze these data, I am optimistic that they will show a decrease in both the level of poverty and risk of food insecurity in the region; however like previous years, this is not the case.
Current estimates show that 22.9 percent, over 1 in 5, of the current population of Coles County is officially poor; this is an increase in nearly one percentage point from 2014, which measured poverty at 22.0 percent. In the United States, living in poverty means that an individual is earning an annual income below the federal threshold of $11,670. For a family, the poverty threshold changes depending on the composition of the number of adults and children; for example, for a family of four the poverty threshold is $23,850 annually. In 2015, 13.7 percent of all families and 23.9 percent of families with children are officially living in poverty; both of these measures have increased from 2014 (from 12.1 percent and 21.1 percent respectively).
While the incidence of poverty increased, the risk of food insecurity for individuals remained flat—42.4 percent in 2015 and 42.5 percent in 2014. Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire adequate foods in socially accepted ways. More basic, it is the increased risk of not knowing from where your next meal may come, and if so, that it is nutritionally sufficient. The annual income for this level of risk, used widely in practice and research, is above the official poverty threshold; the food insecurity threshold is 185 percent of a poverty income for an individual or family (1.85 times the annual income used in the federal poverty threshold).
These most recent estimates for individuals, 42.4 percent, means that well over 2 in 5 individuals are at-risk; further, 30.7 percent of all families (down slightly from 31.1 percent in 2014) are insecure, and 46.9 percent of all families with children under the age of eighteen (an increase from 46.5 percent in 2014) are challenged daily to have adequate meals.
Both poverty and food insecurity data are available in picture-form through this infographic.
A safety net, albeit limited, exists for these families—mainly through targeted governmental services and resources for particular family members. For example, school-aged children from food insecure families are eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school, though not nearly all who are eligible take advantage of this assistance. Similarly, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk, yet again there is a gap enrolling eligible families. Finally, and most important, is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called food stamps, which bolsters the food budget of individuals and families making less than 130 percent of the poverty threshold. SNAP, the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net, is the only food assistance program open to most individuals regardless of family status; SNAP is the most important weapon to fight hunger and target the risk of food insecurity.
Luckily, the State of Illinois, this past summer, passed Public Act 099-0170, which—effective January 1, 2016—will raise the income eligibility for SNAP from 130 percent to 165 percent of the poverty threshold. As the risk of insecurity remains high in the county and the highest in the region, this act will bring up to $60 million in federal funds to the state; I am hopeful that those individuals and families in need will take advantage of this new provision. Also, as I have written in the past of the gap in service eligibility, the gap in public assistance and risk has been reduced, but not completely eliminated.
Last year, when I posted my analysis of these estimates, I discussed my hope that the coming year would provide more optimistic and positive results. However, given what is now known, poverty is increasing and families, especially those with children, are in desperate need of assistance.
These issues are not specific to one group or one social condition, but shared across the county and the East Central Illinois region.
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I hope that readers will continue to be moved to help. Charity, love, and support is not just a seasonal need, but a year-round ingredient to lift our neighbors, co-workers, and friends to our shared standard of living. The month of charitable giving between Thanksgiving and Christmas gleans much in terms of food assistance and opportunities for relief, but poverty, hunger, insecurity, and their outcomes are year-round concerns. This is not just true for our youngest children and their families, but also for working individuals and family breadwinners, students enrolled at Lake Land and Eastern, an increasing number who are attempting to raise a family while taking courses. There are also those with careers in service sector and municipal jobs, and those who have long passed their working years and find the struggles of limited budgets during retirement.
Monetary donations to organizations often translate to more robust benefits because, for example, local pantries can buy food at a discount from the regional food bank for pennies on the dollar. But no matter at what level or how donations are given—canned, non-perishable food, volunteer time, community dialogs, or emotional support—I know through experience that those who live day-to-day at the margins of our community will be grateful. I also know that we are only as strong as least among us, and I hope that next year’s data can prove the tremendous strength that is possible for all of Coles County and East Central Illinois.
Poverty on the Rise in Coles County
Based on data released today by the United States Census Bureau, poverty in Coles County rose nearly one percentage point from 21.99% to 22.89% over the past year.
Further, food insecurity remains stubbornly, painfully elevated at 42.4%, one-tenth lower than last year which was 42.5%.
In the coming weeks, stay tuned for in-depth analysis and research.
Coles County Hunger Symposium
Today I have the honor of presenting my work at the first ever Coles County Hunger Symposium.
This symposium, which will bring together community members, service providers, content experts, and other interested individuals, is geared toward the education and activation of participants to know, understand, and utilize what is learned to better our community.
I will be presenting my research on poverty and food insecurity in Coles County and the East Central Illinois region. A copy of my presentation slides is available here: CCTO Hunger Summit Presentation
In Coles County, Poverty remains but Food Insecurity Rises
In mid-December 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest official estimates of social and economic indicators for every geographic region in the United States. These data, for the calendar year 2013, presents a considerable undertaking and are, by necessity, always a year behind. Nonetheless each December we receive the most reliable vital information regarding the wellbeing of communities across the nation.
For four years now, I have used these estimates in my research to measure the incidence of poverty and food insecurity in Coles County, as well as a fourteen county region serviced by the Eastern Illinois Food Bank in which Coles County is served. Each year when I collect and analyze these data, I am initially hopefully that the estimates of the level of impoverishment and risk for hunger will abate; but this year, like the previous, this is not fully the case.
Current estimates show that 22 percent, over 1 in 5, of the current population of Coles County is officially poor, earning an annual income below the federal threshold of $11,490 for an individual; this depends on the composition of a person’s family, for example, a family of four has a poverty threshold of $23,550 annually. This percentage has remained unchanged from the previous estimates, which is the relative bright spot in an otherwise concerning collection of data.
Also of note, 13 percent of all families, and 22.5 percent of families with children under the age of eighteen are officially poor; each of these marginally increased by roughly one percentage point from previous estimates.
However, while the incidence of poverty remained relatively flat, the more concerning trend is reflected by the percent of individuals and families at-risk of food insecurity—the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire adequate foods in socially accepted ways. More basic, it is the increased risk of not knowing from where your next meal may come, and if so, that it is nutritionally sufficient. The annual income for this level of risk, used widely in practice and research, is above that of official poverty, at 185 percent of a poverty income for an individual or family (1.85 times the annual income used in the federal poverty threshold).
The most recent estimates show that 42.5 percent, well over 2 in 5 individuals are at-risk, 31.1 percent of all families are insecure, and 46.5 percent of all families with children under the age of eighteen are challenged daily to have adequate meals. Each of these increased multiple percentage points from the previous year, and of most concern are families with children.
A safety net, albeit limited, exists for these families—mainly through targeted governmental services and resources for particular family members. For example, school-aged children from food insecure families are eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school, though not nearly all who are eligible take advantage of this assistance. Similarly, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk, yet again there is a gap enrolling eligible families. Finally, and most important, is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called food stamps, which bolsters the food budget of individuals and families making less than 130 percent of the poverty threshold. SNAP, the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net, is the only food assistance program open to most individuals regardless of family status; SNAP can, single-handedly, address food insecurity. But SNAP is also a popular target for program and budget cuts, the most recent threat coming is to restrict access for adults of working age without dependents.
But there is a gap between those who can access such services and the level of need for assistance. Where WIC and the school meal program target families and their children living with food insecurity, SNAP eligibility ends at 130 percent of the federal poverty threshold. Moreover, school meals are served to the student and the nutritional supports through WIC are provided as formula and food for the children; the adults in these families do not receive direct food assistance.
Based on my research, the gap in the percentage of families who are eligible for food stamps but are at-risk of hunger is 11.4 percent of all families and 15.3 percent of all families with children; just over 1 in 6 families are at-risk of missing meals, but unable to access government programs for support.
This gap, as much of my work is targeted, is filled by not-for-profit and private charities who coordinate food pantries, meals, or other needed services like health and educational supports. In Coles County, we are fortunate to have a number of these agencies available, but given the rise in need and risk, they are feeling stretched to serve the poor and near poor.
The month of charitable giving between Thanksgiving and Christmas gleans much in terms of food assistance and opportunities for relief, but poverty, hunger, insecurity, and their outcomes are year-round concerns. This is not just true for our youngest children and their families, but also for working individuals and family breadwinners, students enrolled at Lake Land and Eastern, an increasing number who are attempting to raise a family while taking courses. There are also those with careers in service sector and municipal jobs, and those who have long passed their working years and find the struggles of limited budgets during retirement.
These issues are not specific to one group or one social condition, but shared across the county and East Central Illinois region. I hope that readers will continue to be moved to help. Monetary donations to organizations often translate to more robust benefits because, for example, local pantries can buy food at a discount from the regional food bank for pennies on the dollar. But no matter at what level or how donations are given—canned, non-perishable food, volunteer time, community dialogs, or emotional support—I know through experience that those who live day-to-day at the margins of our community will be grateful. I also know that we are only as strong as least among us, and I hope that next year’s data can prove the tremendous strength that is possible for all of Coles County and East Central Illinois.
2013 Food Assistance Gap Maps Available
Three maps which depict the distribution of families who live in the “food assistance gap” — between 130% and 185% of poverty — were added recently.
They can be found in the “Eastern Illinois Foodbank” menu, on the “Food Assistance Gap” page.
They can be viewed by clicking on this link.
Coles County Poverty Data Project 