One in four children in Georgia face hunger.
28.1% of children in Georgia – 1 in 4 children – live in food insecure households. This means that more than 700,780 children in Georgia have been hungry without access to food in one of the the wealthiest nations in the world.
28.1% of children in Georgia – 1 in 4 children – live in food insecure households. This means that more than 700,780 children in Georgia have been hungry without access to food in one of the the wealthiest nations in the world.
29% of food insecure children in Georgia live in households above 185% of poverty and likely ineligible for any federal food nutrition programs. These are the children of working families. The term “working poor” is a reality in today’s economy. Unemployment and underemployment continue to drive increases in demand for food in Georgia, with 27% of people served by partner agencies reporting they are seeking help for the first time in their lives.
1 in 7.5 people, or an estimated 755,400 people, in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children and more than 64,000 seniors.- 56% of client households report monthly incomes of less than $1000.
- 28% of respondents have faced foreclosure or eviction in the past five years.
- 76% report choosing between paying for food and paying for utilities.
- 43% of these households are making the choice every month.
- 82% report making choices between paying for food and paying for transportation.
- 46% of these households are making the choice every month.
- 73% report choosing between paying for food and paying for medicine/medical care.
- 36% of these households are making the choice every month.
- 62% report choosing between paying for food and paying for housing.
- 35% of these households are making the choice every month.
- 39% report choosing between paying for food and paying for education expenses.
- 22% are making the choice every month.
Some are also forced to make tough choices about the food that they eat. Subsequently, many of them suffer from chronic health conditions. For example:
- 86% of households report purchasing inexpensive, unhealthy food because they could not afford healthier options.
- 73% of households report having to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
- 40% of households include a member with diabetes.