HUNGER IN PHILADEPHIA

WELCOME!!

What is LIFT?

ACTIVITY TIME!

What is Hunger?

•Webster’s Definition:• A very great need for food: a severe lack of food• A weakened disordered condition brought about by prolonged lack of food

Can be seen as a consequence of food insecurity

What does hunger look like

to you?

What Does Hunger Look Like?

• Skipping meals in order to• Pay the rent•Medication•Utilities• Allow children to eat before themselves

1.In 2012, what group of people had the most percentage that requested food assistance? A. Homeless B. Employed C. Families

Answer: Families- 55%

2. The demand for emergency food assistance in Philadelphia that has gone unmet is 20%

False- 33%

3. Hunger cost $6 billion every year

True- Spent on effects of education, charities working on hunger relief, and

medical care

4. As of 2010, more than 411,000 Philadelphia residents receive food assistance

True

5. Philadelphia has an estimate of 500 food pantries and soup kitchens

False- 700

POVERTY

“At a staggering 28 percent, Philadelphia’s poverty rate is the highest among the nation’s 10 largest cities. Over 430,000 of our 1,547,600 citizens live below the federal poverty line…Black Philadelphians and Latinos are twice as likely to be poor as whites. Poverty is also high among people with disabilities (40 percent) and households headed by single mothers (42 percent). most distressing of all, 39 percent of Philadelphia’s children are poor.”

(Shared Prosperity Philadelphia)

Hunger

Poverty

Can you think of any causes or factors that contribute to poverty?

Factors with Poverty

• Limited income• Unemployment• Lack of resources• Lack of support system

What is SNAP?

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps)• Most effective way to control• Helps buy food for families with limited income• As of Sept 2013- 1,824,548 people use SNAP in Pennsylvania• Philadelphia Area: 662,502 use SNAP

However, 180,000 qualify in Philadelphia but don’t use it.

Who Qualifies for SNAP?

• Household Size Monthly Income (Before Taxes) 1 person $1,533

2 $2,069 3 $2,6054 $3,1415 $3,6776 $4,2137 $4,7498 $5,285

Each extra person+$536

Who Qualifies for SNAP?

• Assets• Can’t have no more than 5,500 in assets (Seniors 60 and

over/people with disabilities- 9,000)• What are the assets• Cash on hand• Stocks and Bonds• Checking and Savings Accounts

How much of an impact is this for

Philly?

February 4, 2013

•Senate passed Farms Bill which cut $8.6 billion from SNAP•Farm Bill: Legislation that guides and authorizes federal funding for food and farm policies

Effects on Cutbacks

What does that mean for Philadelphia?

• Households will lose money given from food assistance• Example 4 person household loses $36= 21 meals

• Heat and Eat- Coordination with LIHEAP• 175,000 households lose about $65/month

• Food Banks and Charitable Orgs will have limited access to serve others due to supply and demand• Grocery stores/small businesses lose revenue from food

purchases

What does that mean for Philadelphia?

Monthly Benefits Lost

1 person* -$11 2 people -$20

3 people -$29

4 people -$36 5 people -$43

In Reality…

• Family choose to stretch out their money (limited income) by buying cheaper/processed food• Unhealthy options are more

available in the community

Effects from Unhealthy Eating

Along with malnutrition eating junk food or food that’s considered unhealthy can impact:• Heart Disease• Diabetes• Obesity

ACTIVITY TIME!

So what are solutions in advocating

hunger?

Special Guest: Rachel Aistrop