Poverty and Food Insecurity

Poverty in Wisconsin

Food Insecurity “Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food to sustain an active, healthy life or a limited or uncertain ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways.” (Second Harvest FoodBank of Southwestern WI) Food insecure households do not have certain access to food. Food insecure households report running out of food without having money to buy more, cutting back on the size of meals, or having to skip meals altogether. (UW- Extension, Report on Poverty and Food Insecurity in Wisconsin and Dane County.) “Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food to sustain an active, healthy life or a limited or uncertain ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways.” (Second Harvest FoodBank of Southwestern WI) Food insecure households do not have certain access to food. Food insecure households report running out of food without having money to buy more, cutting back on the size of meals, or having to skip meals altogether. (UW- Extension, Report on Poverty and Food Insecurity in Wisconsin and Dane County.)

What populations are most vulnerable to food insecurity? Children Single-parent households Working poor People on fixed income - people with disabilities, seniors, etc Children Single-parent households Working poor People on fixed income - people with disabilities, seniors, etc

Some federal programs have effectively addressed poverty Social Security Earned Income Tax Credit Medicare, Medicaid FoodShare (formerly Food Stamps) – An effective tool during the Great Recession with recipients numbering 46 million (2012) up from 26.3 million in Social Security Earned Income Tax Credit Medicare, Medicaid FoodShare (formerly Food Stamps) – An effective tool during the Great Recession with recipients numbering 46 million (2012) up from 26.3 million in 2007.

How does FoodShare help alleviate poverty? Second Harvest of Southwestern WI estimates that 2 out of 3 seniors are not receiving eligible benefits for FoodShare. The minimum an eligible senior can receive is $16 per month. In Dane County, if all potentially eligible seniors received this minimum benefit it would contribute $80,000 to the local food economy. Considering the “multiplier effect” this amount is greater: It has been estimated that every FoodShare dollar spent contributes $3 to the economy. Second Harvest of Southwestern WI estimates that 2 out of 3 seniors are not receiving eligible benefits for FoodShare. The minimum an eligible senior can receive is $16 per month. In Dane County, if all potentially eligible seniors received this minimum benefit it would contribute $80,000 to the local food economy. Considering the “multiplier effect” this amount is greater: It has been estimated that every FoodShare dollar spent contributes $3 to the economy.

Other factors that effect access to food Fixed income, increasing food costs No local grocery, farmers market, garden space Limited food bank hours, selection Lack of reliable transportation Health limitations, dietary concerns Social isolation, lack of common cultural connection Fixed income, increasing food costs No local grocery, farmers market, garden space Limited food bank hours, selection Lack of reliable transportation Health limitations, dietary concerns Social isolation, lack of common cultural connection

Fixed Income Transportatio n Health Needs Social Isolation Culture

Connecting Community

Other Mutual Aid Networks that address food insecurity Fair Trade Neighborhood Project - Bringing together producers and consumers through relocalizing our food/farm economy (Reedsburg/La Valle) Oneida Tsyunhekwa Project - restoring access to traditional culturally appropriate foods (Oneida/Green Bay) Dane County TimeBank Garden Project - Neighbors helping neighbors to build gardens and plant. Fair Trade Neighborhood Project - Bringing together producers and consumers through relocalizing our food/farm economy (Reedsburg/La Valle) Oneida Tsyunhekwa Project - restoring access to traditional culturally appropriate foods (Oneida/Green Bay) Dane County TimeBank Garden Project - Neighbors helping neighbors to build gardens and plant.

What does food security look like in your community?