the albany project

the New York City Coalition Against Hunger has just released it's latest report on hunger in New York City, Hunger Hangs on: Despite Stock Market Boom, New York City's Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens Are Still Overwhelmed. It's shocking to say the least. 1 in 6 New York City residents lives in a household that can not afford to purchase sufficient supplies of food.

Yes, you read that correctly - 1 in 6. In New York City. Right. Now.

From the press release:

Despite the recent stock market boom, the number of city residents who lack sufficient food, as well as the number forced to use charitable soup kitchens and food pantries, continued to soar, according to a new report by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH).

During the most recent three year time period (2003-2005), 1,256,000 of the city's residents -- one in six -- lived in households that could not afford to purchase an adequate supply of food, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data analyzed by NYCCAH. During this time, 15.4% of city residents lived in those food insecure households, representing an approximately 112,000-person increase over the 2000-2003 time period, when 14.0% of New Yorkers lived in such households.

Statewide in New York during that same time, the number of people living in food insecurity climbed from 9.4 % to 10.4%, representing a roughly 80,000-person increase. In 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, New York was the only state in the nation in which both poverty and overall earnings income increased, making the state a leader in inequality of wealth.

The number of people served by the city’s charitable food pantries and soup kitchens rose by an estimated 11% in 2006, on top of an estimated 6% increase from 2004-2005, according to the Coalition's annual survey of these agencies. Because the agencies were unable to obtain enough food, money, staff, and volunteers to meet their growing need, nearly half (46%) were forced to ration food by turning people away, reducing portion sizes, and/or limiting hours of operations.

“In a year when the stock market went through the roof -- and the number of billionaires in the city nearly doubled -- it is unconscionable that 1.3 million New Yorkers, including many children, did not have enough to eat,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the Coalition, an umbrella group for the city's more than 1,200 pantries and kitchens. “When the number of people forced to obtain food from charities continues to skyrocket, we know it’s time to rapidly reverse the failing public policies and harmful economic trends that cause this increasing hunger.”

The Coalition Against Hunger’s survey report (available at www.nyccah.org), entitled “Hunger Hangs on: Despite Stock Market Boom, New York City's Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens Are Still Overwhelmed,” also concludes that hunger and poverty are increasing because low-wage workers are facing declining wages at the same time costs for housing, food, and other basic necessities are rapidly increasing, while the government safety net has failed to keep up with rising needs.

The release goes on to quote Council Speaker Quinn, public advocate Betsy Gotbaum and U.S. Rep Anthony Weiner. They all are quoted saying the right things and expressing sufficient alarm. But, notice who's missing?

There is no one from the state level on the record here. Not a one. Perhaps they have larger concerns or maybe they're just, ya know, well fed.

Some really disturbing numbers from the study:

• 83% of responding agencies reported feeding an increased number of people in the last 12 months. 45% said this number increased “greatly.”

• Of the populations that increased “greatly” at responding agencies, the fastest growth was seen among families with children, senior citizens and immigrants.

• 78% of responding agencies reported feeding an increased number of families with children over the last 12 months (versus 6% reporting a decrease, and 11% reporting no change).

• 75% of responding agencies reported feeding an increased number of seniors over the last 12 months (versus 7% reporting a decrease, and 13% reporting no change).

• 46% of responding agencies reported feeding an increased number of working people over the last 12 months (versus 7% reporting a decrease, and 21% reporting no change).

• 84% of responding agencies believe that their need will continue to increase in the next six months. 36% of responding agencies believe it will increase “greatly.”

• 40% of responding agencies reported receiving less government food and money in the last 12 months (vs. 19% reporting no change, and 35% reporting an increase).

• 41% of responding agencies reported receiving less overall food and money in the last 12 months (vs. 19% reporting no change, and 35% reporting an increase).

• Nearly half of respondents report being unable to distribute enough food to meet current demands (48%).

• 46% of responding agencies reported having to turn away hungry New Yorkers, cut portion sizes and/or cut hours of operation in 2006, vs. 41% of the same agencies in 2005.

• 27% of respondents reported using their own personal money “often” or “always” to support their feeding programs (57% do this “sometimes,” “often” or “always”).

That, friends, is a disgrace.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by downtown on Thursday, November 23, 2006 at 1:57 PM | Permalink