Hunger among Older Americans Spikes Nearly 80 Percent Since 2001

AARP Foundation report finds 1 in 11 Americans 50-plus at risk of hunger

Nearly 9 million Americans 50 and older face the risk of hunger, according to new research commissioned by AARP Foundation. The report, produced by James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and Craig Gundersen of the University found more than nine percent of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009—a 79 percent increase since 2001.

The report, “Food Insecurity among Older Adults,” is the first of its kind to examine this issue among people age 50 to 59—the youngest of the baby boomers. Because they are typically too young for Social Security and Medicare and too old to qualify for programs designed for families with children, this age group can be hit particularly hard in bad economic times. In 2009, 4.9 million 50- to 59-year-olds were at risk of hunger, representing a staggering 38 percent increase over 2007.

The report finds that roughly 11 percent of New yorkers age 50-59 face food insecurity.

Download the full report

Download the Policy Brief

Hurricane Irene and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

A new memo has been posted to the Food Stamp Policy Alert page concerning Hurricane Irene and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits. Several attachments are also available including; an outreach flyer, the form needed to request replacement food stamp benefits, and the OTDA policy concerning replacement food stamps.

Due to the possible impact of Hurricane Irene, NYC and upstate communities may experience flooding and/or sustained power outages. Food stamp households that have lost food due to flooding or power outages may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

There are Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinators in many communities across NYS. NOEP coordinators are available to help potentially eligible individuals and families apply for food stamp benefits.

NOEP coordinators can help families and individuals who may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits by:
· Providing the form for households to request Replacement Stamps.
· Helping households complete the form, and
· Answering any questions households may have.

Find out if there is a NOEP coordinator in your community.

If you have any questions about this memo, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 112, or by e-mail Dawn.Secor@HungerSolutionsNY.org

NYS Clarifies Student Eligibility Rules

There are special rules that limit eligibility for students looking to participate in the Food Stamp Program (FSP). In order to participate in the FSP a student must meet one or more of the allowable eligibility exemptions.

OTDA has released 11-INF-06 to clarify the following eligibility rules pertaining to students:
a) Students receiving Unemployment Benefits (UIB)
b) Students participating in correspondence school or online courses; and
c) Exclusion of work study income for all students.

Hunger Solutions New York has developed a memo on these clarifications.

USDA Rejects Mayor Bloomberg's Plan to Ban Use of Food Stamps to Buy Soda

Federal officials on Friday rejected Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to bar New York City’s food stamp users from buying soda and other sugary drinks with them.

While the proposal's goal is to have an impact on obesity rates, the USDA cites that the ban would be to large and complex to implement. Anti-hunger advocates argue that micromanaging the lives of poor people is not the answer and that the proposal was based on the false assumption that poor people are less capable of making healthy food choices.

For more information about hunger and obesity visit resources at the Food Research and Action Center.

Now Available: Afterschool Meals Guide

Are you an afterschool program in a high-need area looking to serve a snack and/supper to students?

Check out the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)'s new Afterschool Meals Guide to help you learn how to get started.

Or, for more information about the "At-Risk Afterschool Snack and Supper Program" in NYS, visit our website or check out this brochure from the NYS Department of Health.

4 Anti-Hunger-Related Funding Opps

From the Sodexho Foundation:
25 Sodexo Youth Grants of $500 each to support youth-led service projects in the United States that address the issue of childhood hunger during National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 13-20, 2011). We’re looking for projects that engage your peers, friends, families, neighbors, Sodexo employees, and other community members in creative, youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in your community.

Deadline September 16.

From the Whole Kids Foundation:
To be eligible for a garden grant, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or nonprofit K-12 school that is developing or currently maintaining a school garden project that will help children engage with fresh fruits and vegetables. Garden projects may be at any stage of development; planning, construction or operation. For cases in which an applicant facilitates garden projects in more than one school, multiple garden grants may be requested under a single application. In occasional cases, additional funds may be awarded for special projects.

Deadline December 31.

From Action for Healthy Kids, Share Your Breakfast!
The awards will range from $750-$1,000, with significant in-kind contributions from Action for Healthy Kids in the form of people, programs, and policy expertise. We’ll also provide schools with management, expertise and support to develop alternative breakfast programs or start universal breakfast programs.

Deadline September 30 with an informational webinar on September 21.

From the AARP Foundation:
AARP Foundation is seeking to fund the development or scaling of innovative, sustainable solutions to hunger that incorporate collaboration and community development and have the potential for making a significant impact on community food security and sustainable food systems for those 50 and older.

Deadline September 15.

8/25 Webinar: Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application

Hunger Solutions New York will be hosting a webinar all about the free and reduced-price school meal application.

Date: Thursday, August 25
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm

School meals provide essential fuel for learning and contribute to student success. During this webinar, learn how you can help ensure all eligible low-income children are qualified for free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch.

Learn more here or register online now.

1 in 4 American Households with Children Report Not Being Able to Afford Enough Food

Today the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) released its latest food hardship report. According to the report "Food Hardship in America 2010: Households with and without Children" New York State rank 29th in the nation for food hardship with 14.6% of households having trouble affording enough food while 23.3% of household with children report the same trouble.

Of note, the last report from March of this year rated New York's 16th Congressional District with the highest food hardship rate in the country at nearly 33%. That rate has dropped to 27%, bringing the district to the 4th ranking position.

Nationwide, nearly 1 in 4 households with children report having trouble affording enough food. You can read FRAC's statement here.