Rural Hunger

Rates of food insecurity, the statistical measurement of hunger or near hunger, among rural households is generally lower than urban households, but slightly higher than the national average. The irony is that many of these hungry and near hungry households are in the very rural and farm communities whose productivity feeds the world and provides low-cost wholesome food for American consumers.

Many people need to turn to a food bank or church pantry just to eat in the very same communities where the food is raised, a sad reminder of how much more needs to be done.

Facts:
Challenges facing rural areas greatly differ from metro/urban areas:i

Employment is more concentrated in low-wage industries
Unemployment and underemployment are greater
Education levels are lower
Work support services, such as flexible and affordable child care and public transportation, are less available
The rural market place offers less access to communication and transportation network to companiesii
The rural market place offers companies less access to activities that foster administration, research and development

28.5% of client households served in non-metropolitan areas reported that their children often or sometimes did not eat enough during the past year because there was not enough money to buy food. iii

12% of rural households are food insecure, an estimated 2.3 million households.iv

17.5% of all rural households with children are food insecure, over 1 million children.v

According to ERS, more than one out of every three persons living in non-metro families that are headed by a female is poor. The highest poverty rate by type of family is for female-headed, non-metro families.vi

Counties with disproportionately high rates of persistent poverty are often rural, with 340 of 386 persistent poverty counties primarily rural. vii

Of the nearly 50,000 agencies served by America's Second Harvest, 42.6% percent of all client households are served by suburban/rural program sites. Seniors comprised of 14.2% percent of clients at emergency food programs located in non-metropolitan areas. viii

The South, in comparison to all regions, continues to have the highest poverty rate (under 100% of poverty) among people in families with related children under 18 years living outside metro statistical areas (48.6%) and inside metro statistical areas (37.8%).ix

Among all people in families with related children under 18 years with a female head of household, 44.2% lived inside metro statistical areas compared to 36.6% outside metro statistical areas. ix

i. USDA. Economic Research Service. Leslie A. Whitener, R. Gibbs, and L. Kusmin. Rural Welfare Reform: Lessons Learned. Amber Waves. June 2003.

ii. USDA. Economic Research Service. Robert Gibbs, L. Kusmin. Low-Skill Employment and the Changing Economy of Rural America. ERR-10. October 2005.

iii. Rhoda Cohen, M. Kim, and J. Ohls. Hunger In America 2006. America's Second Harvest-The Nation’s Food Bank Network. February 2006.

iv. Economic Research Service. Mark Nord, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. Household Food Security in the United States, 2006. November 2007 .

v. Economic Research Service. Mark Nord, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. Household Food Security in the United States, 2006. November 2007.

vi. USDA. Economic Research Service website. Rural Income, Poverty and Welfare, 2003.

vii. USDA. Economic Research Service website. Rural Income, Poverty and Welfare, 2003.

viii. America's Second Harvest. Douglas O’Brien, H. Aldeen. Hunger In America 2006.

ix. U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey. 2007 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. POV43.