2.9 million low-income adults in California live with hunger

A new report to be released June 7, by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows that more than 2.9 million low-income adults in California live with hunger or make daily decisions about whether to eat or pay for other essential needs.

Low-household income, a shortage of affordable housing and low rates of participation in federally-funded nutrition assistance programs (such as food stamps) are considered key factors.

The report estimates that the percentage of adults who suffer from food insecurity either hunger or risk of hunger rose to 33.9% in 2003 from 29.1% in 2001, while the percentage who experience hunger rose to 10.3% from 8.3%. National figures were almost stable during the same timeframe.

COUNTIES: Highest rates of food insecurity are found in Kern, Tulare, Sutter/Yuba, Napa, Shasta, San Mateo and San Joaquin counties, where more than 40% of low-income adults reported food insecurity. The report pinpoints the highest rates of hunger in Kern and Mendocino/Lake counties, with 21.1%.

ETHNIC POPULATIONS: the study finds food insecurity among low-income adults is most common among Latinos (38.2%), followed by African Americans (37.3%), whites (28.1%) and Asians (23.8%). African-American adults have the highest rate of hunger, with 13.8%, compared with 12.1% of whites, 9.7% of Latinos, and 3.9% of Asians.

Other findings:

1. Among low-income adults age 65 and older, 20% are food insecure, up from 15.9% in 2001, and 4.3% report experiencing episodes of hunger, up from 3.8%.
2. 40.7% of low-income pregnant women ages 18-44 were food insecure in 2003, up from 29.2% in 2001, 16.1% report episodes of hunger, up from 6.2%.
3. Among low-income adults in households with children, 38.3% are food insecure and hunger affects 10.9%. Rates are higher in single-parent households with children.
4. Among unemployed adults, 40.4% are food insecure, up from 39.3% in 2001, and 14.4% reported hunger, up from 13%.