Data about Poverty and Hunger in Georgia.

Hunger and poverty are inextricably linked in our community. Nearly 15 percent of Georgians live in poverty. In Fulton County, the number rises to almost 25 percent -- one in four people. As alarming as these statistics are, they tell only part of the story of hunger in our community:

• The percentage of Georgia households receiving food stamps jumped from 7.9% in 2007 to 9.2% in 2008 - 320,926 households. ( U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Profile. 2007 and 2008)
• 58,900 different people are now receiving emergency food each week through a network of more than 700 nonprofit partner agencies served by the Atlanta Community Food Bank - a 39% increase over the last four years. (*Feeding America "Hunger in America 2010" Study)
• 20.1 percent of Georgia 's children live in poverty - that's nearly half a million children under age 18. ( U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Profile. 2007 and 2008)
• 80 percent of client households served by Atlanta Community Food Bank partner agencies reported having an income below the federal poverty level during the previous month. (*Feeding America "Hunger in America 2010" Study)
• 11.9 percent - more than one in every ten senior citizens in Georgia - is living in poverty. ( U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Profile. 2007 and 2008)
• 12.6 percent of Georgia households experience low food security. Food Security is defined as access to enough food for an active, healthy life. (USDA. 2007)
• 39 percent of client households served by Atlanta Community Food Bank partner agencies reported having to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and food. (*Feeding America "Hunger in America 2010" Study)
• The number of Americans living in poverty increased by 2.5 million people from 37.3 million in 2007 to 39.8 million in 2008. According to the federal government, a family of four is living at the poverty level if their income is $22,025 or lower. ( U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. 2008)
• More than 37 million (or 1 in every 8) Americans are now receiving emergency food assistance through the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks. That's up 46% from 2006. (Feeding America "Hunger in America 2010" Study)
• The number of children living in poverty in the U.S. jumped from 18% to 19% from 2007 to 2008 - that's 14.1 million kids - and 6.3 million kids live in extreme poverty - meaning their family earns less than $11,025 per year. ( U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. 2008)
• 3.5 million young children in the U.S. , ages 5 and under, are food insecure - meaning they lack enough food for a healthy, active life. The first three years of life are the most critical period of brain growth and development. (Child Food Insecurity in the United States : 2005-2007. John Cook, Ph.D., Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. 2009)
• Each week, approximately 4 million people receive assistance through the Feeding America network of 205 food banks and 63,000 partner agencies. (Feeding America. 2009)

Web resources

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