New study: 20% of MN households are food insecure
The Brief
Study shows 1 in 5 Minnesota households are food insecure.
Second Harvest Heartland conducts its first-ever statewide hunger study.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) - New data shows a sobering reality for hunger in the state of Minnesota.
One in five households are experiencing food insecurity. Second Harvest Heartland said this is the first time it has ever conducted its own statewide hunger study.
By the numbers
Second Harvest Heartland said organizations rely on federal statistics on hunger relief every 18 months or so to inform strategy, which can often be a delayed reference point.
Second Harvest Heartland partnered with Wilder Research to conduct its first ever statewide hunger study. The organization said it wanted to better understand the current state of food insecurity in Minnesota to try to keep up with the growing need.
"One of our greatest insights is that one out of five Minnesotans cannot afford the food they need to thrive," said Sarah Moberg, Chief Operations Officer of Second Harvest Heartland.
According to the study, 20% of Minnesota households are food insecure, 18% of the state is supported by the emergency food system, and 30% of households in Minnesota are not confident about having enough food in the next year.
Second Harvest Heartland said food shelf visits over the last year will set yet another record.
Understanding the issues:
Second Harvest Heartland said their mission is not just about providing food, they want to grow awareness about the root causes of hunger and affordability.
"It could be, do you have transportation to get to a job. It could be the job and the hours and the childcare, all of those pieces have to work together in order for a family to be able to afford the food they need," said Moberg. "Often times, we know if a family has to make a tough choice about what to afford, food is the first thing they pull back on."
The organization also points to rising costs as a challenge many of these households face.
"Times are tough right now, so the cost of items like childcare, healthcare, housing, energy, all of those have been increasing. They're increasing at a rate that many families are having a hard time keeping up with," said Moberg. "We know it's a really difficult choice right now that many families are having to make."
What you can do
Learn more here about the organization's goal to cut the number of food insecure households in the state in half by 2030 by clicking here.
The Source
Second Harvest Heartland, Wilder Research.
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