Increase in hungry Hoosiers
Comet staff report

Indiana has seen significant increases in the percentage of children living in poverty, public school students receiving free or reduced-price lunches, and households with children under 18 receiving food stamps. These are indicators that a growing number of Hoosier children are suffering from hunger.

According to Indiana Youth Institute's (IYI) latest Issue Alert, "The New Face of Hunger: The Working Poor," nearly one in seven Hoosier households suffers from low or very low food security. These households are unsure from where their next meal will come.

The findings illustrate that hunger is not just an issue with the unemployed or homeless, according to IYI president and CEO Bill Stanczykiewicz.

"One in four working families in Indiana is considered low income and the vast majority of Hoosier families receiving food stamps have at least one or more workers in them," he said. "Children who are hungry suffer physical, social and emotional consequences. Such as being more likely to receive lower grades, be suspended or expelled, suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts."

The federal government considers a family of four as "low income" if its annual household income falls below $41,300.

The Issue Alert cites Census Bureau statistics showing Approximately 14 percent of Hoosier families with children receive food stamps, which ranks 19th highest in the country. Nearly half of the food stamp recipients in Indiana are children under 18.

During the most recent school year, 28.2 percent of the children in Indiana's public schools received free lunches, a 40 percent increase since 2000. The percentage of public school students receiving reduced price lunches has gone up 30 percent during that same time period. Students from families with annual incomes less than $26,845 qualify for free lunches while families with incomes between $26,825 and $38,203 qualify for reduced-price lunches.

Much of the efforts to fight hunger across Indiana are coordinated by a network of 12 regional food banks. Relief agencies say some people experiencing hunger cannot access these resources because of physical, economic and other restraints, such as a lack of transportation.

The issue also reports that 15 percent of the families in Indiana experience low or very low food security, which means the availability of food in household is uncertain, insufficient or limited. Characteristics of individuals with low or very low food security include: concern over a shortage of food, purchased food will not last until the buyer can next afford a trip to the grocery store

decreased meal size

skipping means even when hungry

unable to afford balanced meals, and

weight loss due to lack of food.

Researchers say food insecurity can lead to more hospitalization and health care visits, and caring for those with food security issues, charity to feed the hungry and the loss of productivity caused by hunger or hunger-related issues are estimated to cost Indiana about $1.9 billion every year.

Those wishing to help stop hunger in Indiana can contact local food banks to make donations of money or food or provide help through community agencies serving the hungry.