The number of Americans living in poverty has risen 10 percent since 2000, after falling in the late 1990s. Nearly 36 million Americans — one in eight — now live in poverty and tens of millions more are considered working poor.
The economy has lost nearly a million jobs — 241,000 in Michigan alone — since it slid into recession in March 2001.
That has increased the demand for government programs from millions of Americans who are now more likely to know hunger, homelessness and chronic need.
America’s working poor — its secretaries, cooks, laborers, clerks and others — are finding it difficult to meet even basic needs.
For the poor, child care and housing can consume more than 80 percent of their income. And 45 million Americans, most of them low-income, have no health insurance.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0409/29/a01-284666.htm36.3 million people (including 13 million children) experience hunger or the risk of hunger
This is roughly 12 percent of the 293 million people in the U.S. (July 2004 estimate - Source)
3.2 percent of U.S. households (9.5 million people - based on a U.S. population of 293 million) experience hunger. Some families skip meals, eat too little, or go a whole day without food.
1 out of every 8 households in the United States has reduced the quality of their diet to utilize money elsewhere (rent, clothing, day care).
8.7 percent of U.S. households (25.5 million people, including 10 million children - based on a U.S. population of 293 million) are at risk of hunger.
Hunger in the United States could be eliminated. Other countries with the same average per capita income have done so.
http://www.elca.org/hunger/facts/facts.html#united-statesMalnutrition affects people of every age, although infants, children, and adolescents may suffer the most because many nutrients are critical for growth and development. Older people may develop malnutrition because aging, illness, and other factors may lead to a poor appetite, so they may not eat enough.
Indications of malnutrition depend on which nutritional deficiencies a child has, although they can include:
fatigue and low energy
dizziness
poor immune function (which can cause the body to have trouble fighting off infections)
dry, scaly skin
swollen and bleeding gums
decaying teeth
painful joints
slowed reaction times and trouble paying attention
underweight
poor growth
muscle weakness
bloated stomach (in severe cases)
osteoporosis, or fragile bones that break easily (in severe cases)
problems with organ function (in severe cases)
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/hunger_p2.htmlTemporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Bush proposes to flat fund TANF, a cut in grants to states when inflation-adjusted. As in the past, the President calls for increasing required work-related activities for TANF recipients to 40 hours per week, and diverting needed funds from child care and other work supports to questionably effective programs promoting marriage and "responsible fatherhood."
Food Stamps: The budget proposes $1 billion in food stamp cuts over 10 years, which means that 200,000-300,000 fewer low-income individuals will receive nutrition assistance. Under the plan, welfare recipients who receive child care, education, training and other services but no welfare cash assistance would no longer be automatically eligible for food stamps.
Other Nutrition Programs: The budget proposes to eliminate funding for the Community Food and Nutrition Program. It also cuts the Commodity Supplemental Food Program by $3 million, which would mean a drop in caseload of 45,000 people. Proposed caps on discretionary spending will leave WIC, Meals on Wheels, and other nutrition programs vulnerable to program cuts in the years beyond FY 2006.
http://www.afscme.org/action/fy2006.htm
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