Section 6.2.1

6.2.1 - Indicators of Food Insecurity in Households

Table 6.2.1 presents responses to two of the questions involved in the six-item short module.

Table 6.2.1

INDICATORS OF FOOD INSECURITY IN HOUSEHOLDS

Two Questions in the Six-Item Short Module¹	Pantry Client Households	Kitchen Client Households	Shelter Client Households	All Client Households
"The food we bought just didn't last, and we didn't have money to get more." In the last 12 months, was that ... ?
Often true	32.3%	30.1%	26.5%	31.7%
Sometimes true	46.5%	40.6%	41.3%	45.5%
Never true	21.2%	29.3%	32.2%	22.8%
TOTAL	100%	100%	100%	100%
"We couldn't afford to eat balanced meals." In the last 12 months, was that ... ?
Often true	21.9%	25.0%	29.2%	22.7%
Sometimes true	44.2%	35.8%	32.9%	42.5%
Never true	33.9%	39.2%	37.9%	34.8%
TOTAL	100%	100%	100%	100%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	24,436	5,441	2,882	32,759

Source
This table was constructed based on usable responses to Questions 42 and 43 of the client survey.

Notes
The percentages presented in this table are based only on usable responses, excluding missing, don't know, and refusal responses. All usable responses were weighted as described in Chapter 3 and in the Technical Appendix volume to represent all emergency food clients of the A2H network. The sample sizes (N) also include missing data.

For food didn't last, missing, don't know, and refusal responses combined are 1.2% for pantry clients, 1.8% for kitchen clients, 0.7% for shelter clients, and 1.2% for all clients.

For not eating balanced meals, missing, don't know, and refusal responses combined are 1.2% for pantry clients, 1.9% for kitchen clients, 0.3% for shelter clients, and 1.2% for all clients.

1. Bickel, Gary, Mark Nord, Cristofer Price, William Hamilton, and John Cook. "Guide to Measuring Household Food Security, Revised 2000." U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, March 2000.

Overall, 77.2% of the client households reported that, during the previous 12 months, they had been in a situation where the food they bought "just didn't last and they didn't have money to get more." In addition, 65.2% of the client households were, often or sometimes during the previous 12 months, in a situation where they "couldn't afford to eat balanced meals."