Poverty
Food assistance programs address food insecurity in a variety of ways by providing critical resources, such as bulk food, prepared meals, community gardens, subsidized or free groceries, and other local community efforts. These safety net programs help families stabilize during times of financial hardship by providing financial assistance and access to balanced, nutritional meals. What factors might contribute to individuals not utilizing SNAP?
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Median Income
Income and the cost of living can help us understand where and how food insecurity impacts communities at the local level. Often, communities with higher costs of living have a segment of the population living below the poverty line with low access to balanced, nutritional meals.
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Poverty and Unemployment
Unemployment can impact families in a variety of difficult ways, including needing to prioritize bills over groceries. Policies and programs that support individuals in finding stable employment can play a significant role in alleviating food insecurity. However, fluctuations in income — even among those who are employed — can lead to food insecurity. Unemployment and poverty both speak to how difficult it is for households to consistently meet their household's nutritional needs. How is food insecurity in rural areas different from food insecurity in urban areas?
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Language
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Language proficiency can play a role in food security. Finding and accessing assistance programs can be challenging when a person does not read or write in English. Granted that many of the individuals represented in this data have some degree of English proficiency, understanding the language spoken at home can also help food security organizations — like pantries — tailor their offerings and materials to fit the language and culture of a community.
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Gender
Single mother households often face exacerbated economic difficulties. Often their households operate with less income and must balance professional work with caregiving responsibilities. When single caregivers rely on day care services, they are left with less income to provide sufficient and nutritious food for their household.
Single mothers often have to deal with income disparities since women on average earn less than men. Combined with the pervasiveness of single mother households living below the poverty line, this financial challenge makes it difficult for mothers to ensure nutritious food is consistently available in their household.