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Hunger
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In 2014, 48 million Americans, including more than 15 million children, lacked access to a dependable and adequate source of food. Although the recession may be over, the number of Americans still struggling with this basic need remains unchanged. Hunger is a result of lack of resources. Unemployment, low wages, and high housing costs have been identified as the major causes of hunger. More than a million New Jerseyans, over 374,000 of them children, lack food security, according to the latest comprehensive data. The problem of hunger is compounded by New Jersey’s high cost of living, which makes about 36% of those struggling with food insecurity ineligible for federal nutritional assistance. In addition, cuts to the benefit level of those already receiving assistance further threaten thousands of New Jersey households. Only when people have food adequate to their nutritional needs can New Jersey have a safe, stable, and productive future. Below are essential programs to ensure adequate nutrition assistance.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Supported primarily by federal funding, SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, has been a first line of defense against hunger. Although New Jersey has taken steps to expand eligibility for SNAP and streamline the application process, only about 77% of those eligible actually participate in the program. New Jersey lags considerably behind the National average of 83% of eligible people accessing SNAP benefits. If the participation rate rose just five percentage points, 57,000 more people would have $22.4 million more per year to purchase nutritious food. On November 1, 2013, all New Jersey SNAP households saw a benefit decrease of approximately 5%. This included about 1 of every 10 residents in New Jersey, whose benefits, after the cut, averaged less than $1.40 per meal. In July 2014, legislation enacted through the Farm Bill further affected those New Jersey residents who also receive the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). As many as 159,000 households may have seen a reduction in their SNAP benefits of as much as $90 per month. These cuts disproportionately affected senior and disabled households.
Food Pantries: For many households, a food package from a local pantry helps supplement monthly income so that other basic expenses can be met. Food banks have seen a continuing rise in demand. A recent study by Feeding America noted that 62% of feeding programs in New Jersey saw an increase in demand over the previous year. However, in the current economic climate, donations from private sources, food drives, and charitable foundations are in decline.
We ask that you invest in the people of New Jersey by:
For more information, contact Diane Riley, The Community FoodBank of New Jersey