Seniors and retirees are caught in the loss of investment wealth, increase in expensive healthcare, housing, and facing unexpected retirement challenges.

Today Hunger Solutions Minnesota released their third volume of Keeping Food on the Table, a quarterly review that tracks the state of hunger in Minnesota. This issue is a review of the USDA food insecurity survey, senior hunger and food shelf visits.
The first half of 2009 witnessed a 53% year-to-date increase or 134,768 in senior food shelf visits in Minnesota. Visits to Minnesota food shelves totaled 1.3 million January – June 2009. That represents an overall increase of 26% over the same time in 2008.

At the same time we’ve seen an increase in demand for emergency food service from seniors, the seniors’ participation rates in Food Support (food stamps) have remained flat for the past 19 years. The use of food support benefits in Minnesota has increased 26.5% since August 2008. Currently, there are over 380,000 Minnesotans receiving food support benefits – only 17,970 are seniors.

According to Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, “Seniors are hesitant to take advantage of these public benefits because of misinformation about eligibility and many are daunted by the paperwork.” Seniors in Minnesota on average receive $80.00 a month in benefits.

In the report, HSM also provides an overview of a newly released USDA Food Security report. Each year, the Census Bureau measures food insecurity through a series of household survey questions about the ability to obtain enough food for an active, healthy life for all members.

Among the 10.3 percent of people in Minnesota households considered to be food insecure during the 2006-2008 period, 4.1 percent were living in households that were considered to have “very low food security.” People that fall into this USDA category had more severe problems experiencing hunger and cutting back or skipping meals on a more frequent basis for both adults and children. Minnesota ranks at 40 for the states for percentage of food insecure residents.

State data are 2006-2008 averages. National data are 2008. “Both would be much higher if the survey were taken today. Because of the timing of the survey, the new national data in the report represent answers about 2008, early in the recession. The national number today almost undoubtedly is worse. The state data predates the recession’s real impact even more,” said Colleen Moriarty, executive director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota (HSM) responded to the increase need by launching the “Minnesota Food HelpLine” that provides a vital service to Minnesotans at risk for hunger. Callers to the Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) will receive help with the Food Support (Food Stamps) program and referrals to emergency food assistance in their area. HSM provides multilingual Food Support application assistance and eligibility screening for callers statewide. One goal of the HelpLine is to enroll more eligible seniors in the food support program.

ACCESS REPORTS:

Hunger Solutions

USDA

ABOUT HUNGER SOLUTIONS MINNESOTA

Hunger Solutions Minnesota is a comprehensive hunger relief organization that works to end hunger in Minnesota. We take action to assure food security for all Minnesotans by supporting over 300 agencies that provide food to those in need, advancing sound public policy, and guiding grassroots advocacy. HSM advocates for the maximum use of all federal public nutrition dollars available and works to improve low income Minnesotans’ access to all nutrition programs. The HSM Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) helps enroll low-income Minnesotans in the Food Support (Food Stamps) program and helps callers find emergency food assistance in their area. For further information, visit http://www.hungersolutions.org/ or call 651-789-9843.