CATHOLIC CHARITIES

1

• CATHOLIC CHARITIES

2
Overview of Rural Hunger April 27th, 2006
Questions? Contact Natalie Halbach at
nhalbach_at_catholiccharitiesusa.org Or Sister Ann
Pratt, OP at apratt_at_catholiccharitiesusa.org
3

• Presentation Outline
• Quick stats
• Factors contributing to rural hunger
• Some consequences of hunger
• Short-term solutions
• Sustainable solutions
• Further resources

4
1. Basics of Rural Poverty and Hunger
Hunger The uneasy or painful sensation caused by
lack of food.
Food Insecurity Limited or uncertain
availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods for an active healthy life, or uncertain
ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially
acceptable ways.
5
Rural Counties 83 of the nations land
but
only 20 of American people.
6
340 of the 386 persistent poverty counties are in
non-metro areas.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Hunger is a Symptom of Poverty

• In 2003, 14.2 of the population living in
  nonmetro areas were poor.
• In contrast, the metro poverty rate was 12.1.

• In 2004, 13.1 of nonmetro households were
  food-insecure compared to 11.7 in metro areas.

9
(No Transcript)
10
2. What Factors Contribute to Rural Hunger?
11
Factor 1 Changes in Agriculture
Farm Consolidation Most rural
families can no longer make a living farming.

• Between 1987 and 1992, America lost on average
  32,000 farms each year, 80 of them family-run.

• Non-farm activities dominate 8 in 10 rural
  counties.

12
Factor 2 Lack of Quality Jobs

• Manufacturing Jobs 22 of rural earnings, but
  most added in the 1990s were low-skilled.
• Service Jobs 2/3 of rural jobs. Most of these
  jobs have little room for advancement.
• Offshoring Manufacturing costs more in U.S.
  rural areas than other countries. Rural areas
  lack the services and labor force to attract
  higher tech industries.
• Wage Gap The nonmetro median income of 32,837
  falls far short of the metro median of 44,984
  (ERS 2000).

13
Factor 3 Growth of Food Deserts
A Food Desert is a place where people experience
geographic or financial barriers to accessing
healthy foods.

• Rural Food Deserts signs
• Too few stores
• Lack of transportation to stores
• Unaffordable foods in local stores
• Lack of fresh fruits and vegetables

14
Grocery store consolidation few stores
With the low prices the big box stores can
offer, smaller local businesses may be unable to
compete, and the ultimate result may be the death
of a towns small business sector. (Bread for
the World, Hunger Report 2005)
15
Transportation Barriers

• Low population density stores and services that
  are often few, far away and less accessible.
• Yet
• About half of rural counties have no public
  transit system at all.

16
(No Transcript)
17
Rural Stores are Often More Expensive
They have to charge more to cover their costs.
The delivery trucks have to come out so far, and
they cant buy in bulk. Its just a rural
store. Naomi, elderly resident of Big Island, LA
Data gathered from 27 stores in 18 rural
communities in New Mexico by two Emerson National
Hunger Fellows (Fall 2005).
18
Smaller Stores are more Expensive
The grocery stores that are closer to us you
cant afford to buy a loaf of bread. It would be
74 cents at a bigger store, and here it costs
2.00
Legend Categories 1) 0 to 2499 ft.2 2) 2500 to
9999 ft.2 3) 10,000 to 39,999 ft.2 4) over 39,999
ft.2
19
3. Consequences of Hunger

• Development and Learning Disabilities
• Even mild undernutrition can impact physical
  growth and brain development of children.

• Obesity
• Low-income families often rely on cheaper,
  high-calorie foods to
  stretch food budgets.
• Physiological changes help the body conserve
  energy and store fat when diets fall short of
  calories. The body continues to overstore when
  enough food is available.

20
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps
/
21
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1991
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
22
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1992
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
23
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1993
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
24
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1994
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
25
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1995
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
26
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1996
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
27
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1997
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
28
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1998
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
29
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1999
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
30
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2000
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
31
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2001
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
No Data lt10 1014 1519
2024 25
32
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2002
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
No Data lt10 1014 1519
2024 25
33
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2003
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
No Data lt10 1014 1519
2024 25
34
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2004
(BMI 30, or 30 lbs overweight for 5 4
person)
No Data lt10 1014 1519
2024 25
35
4. Short-term Solutions
Short-term solutions provide the immediate, vital
nutrition assistance that rural families need.

• Federal Nutrition Programs
• The federal government coordinates 15 nutrition
  programs
• Ex Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch
  Program.
• 1 in 5 Americans participates in a nutrition
  program at some point each yr.
• Emergency Food Network
• Catholic Charities Agencies
• 44 of Catholic Charities agency services provide
  food (congregate dining, food shelves, meal
  delivery).
• These programs served more than 5 million clients
  in 2004.
• Americas Second Harvest
• Distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated
  food annually to
• nearly 50,000 local charitable agencies.

36
5. Sustainable Solutions
Rural Entrepreneurship Rural entrepreneurship
relies on the strong creativity, knowledge and
relationships of rural citizens. Entrepreneurs
create jobs and profits that stay in the local
community.
Transportation and Technology Improved public
transportation can combat food deserts. Some
states have also begun to use internet technology
to provide education or health care from a
distance.
Community-based Development Development funds and
policies should empower communities to decide for
themselves what they need for growth. A
potential model is USDAs Community Empowerment
and Enterprise Communities program
Local Food Sourcing Farmers increasing fruits and
vegetables to sell at local shops and farmers
markets. They keep their land while rural
residents get better access to healthy foods.
37
Advocacy Opportunities

• Reactive Advocacy Work to prevent cuts in
  services.
• The Presidents current proposed budget for FY
  2007 includes cuts to the Food Stamp Program, WIC
  (serves women and children), the Commodity
  Supplemental Food Prgm. (primarily seniors), and
  Community Food and Nutrition Program.
• Proactive Advocacy Work to address root causes
  with new ideas.
• 2007 Farm Bill
• The Farm Bill sets national
  agriculture and food policy.
• Reviewed, changed and reauthorized every
  5 years.
• Changes in the 2007 Farm Bill could make
  rural development policy more responsive to
  the needs of small farmers and rural
  communities.

38
Further Resources

• Food Security and Hunger in the United States
• Food Research and Action Center
• www.frac.org
• 2004 USDA Report on Hunger and Food Insecurity
  in the U.S.
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err11/
• Conditions and Trends of Food Insecurity in the
  U.S. (ERS Briefing)
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodSecurity/tr
  ends.htm
• Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs
• USDA Economic Research Service
  http//www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodNutritionAss
  istance/
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service Homepage (links
  to all federal nutrition assistance programs)
• http//www.fns.usda.gov/
• USDA Community Empowerment and Enterprise Zones
  page
• http//www.ezec.gov/

39

• Maps
• Center for Disease Control, Behavioral Risk
  Factor Surveillance SystemMaps
• http//apps.nccd.cdc.gov/gisbrfss/default.aspx
• CDC Overweight and Obesity Trends 1985-2004
• http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/ma
  ps/
• USDA Economic Research Service Rural maps
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/Emphases/Rural/Gallery/
• Food Stamp Participation
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/data/foodstamps/
• National Anti-Hunger Organizations
• National Anti-Hunger Organizations (NAHO)
  coalition contact list
• http//www.results.org/website/article.asp?id96
  2
• Americas Second Harvest, The Nations Food Bank
  Network
• www.secondharvest.org
• Bread for the World
• www.bread.org

40

• Food Research and Action Center
• www.frac.org
• World Hunger Year (Information bank on food
  security and hunger)
• www.worldhungeryear.org
• Rural Assistance Center, Food Info Page
• http//www.raconline.org/info_guides/food/
• 2007 Farm Bill Info and Advocacy Organizations
• USDA Farm Bill Information Page
• http//www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/farmbill/default.asp
  
• Community Food Security Coalition
• www.foodsecurity.org
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Statement on
  Agriculture)
• http//www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/200510ag.htm
• National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC)
• http//www.ncrlc.com/NewFarmBillCampaign.html

41
5. Sustainable Solutions

• ACENET
• Appalachian Center for Econ. Networks
• Builds rural economies through tech. support,
  training, marketing and networking for
  entrepreneurs.

Transportation and Technology Improved public
transportation can combat food deserts. Some
states have also begun to use internet technology
to provide education or health care opportunities
from a distance.
Community-based Development Development funds and
policies should empower communities to decide for
themselves what they need for growth. A good
model is USDAs Community Empowerment and
Enterprise Communities program
Local Food Sourcing Farmers have begun
transitioning to fruits and vegetables to sell at
local shops and farmers markets. They keep
their land while rural residents get better
access to healthy foods.
42
5. Sustainable Solutions
Rural Entrepreneurship Rural entrepreneurship
relies on the strong creativity, knowledge and
relationships of rural citizens. Entrepreneurs
create jobs and profits that stay in the local
community.

• Georgia Telemedicine Program
• Images, records sent to specialists.
• Allows rural patients to be diagnosed and treated
  sooner.
• 98 receive specialist care in local communities
  instead of traveling.

Community-based Development Development funds and
policies should empower communities to decide for
themselves what they need for growth. A good
model is USDAs Community Empowerment and
Enterprise Communities program
Local Food Sourcing Farmers have begun
transitioning to fruits and vegetables to sell at
local shops and farmers markets. They keep
their land while rural residents get better
access to healthy foods.
43
5. Sustainable Solutions
Rural Entrepreneurship Rural entrepreneurship
relies on the strong creativity, knowledge and
relationships of rural citizens. Entrepreneurs
create jobs and profits that stay in the local
community.
Transportation and Technology Improved public
transportation can combat food deserts. Some
states have also begun to use internet technology
to provide education or health care opportunities
from a distance.
Community-based Development Development funds and
policies should empower communities to decide for
themselves what they need for growth. A good
model is USDAs Community Empowerment and
Enterprise Communities program

• Farmers Markets
• Markets reduce middle man costs and
  transportation costs.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) links urban
  and rural through local food.

44
5. Sustainable Solutions
Rural Entrepreneurship Rural entrepreneurship
relies on the strong creativity, knowledge and
relationships of rural citizens. Entrepreneurs
create jobs and profits that stay in the local
community.
Transportation and Technology Improved public
transportation can combat food deserts. Some
states have also begun to use internet technology
to provide education or health care opportunities
from a distance.

• USDA Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community
  Program
• Federal grants for community-driven development
  projects.
• Long-term vision (10 year projects)
• Created 28,000 jobs

Local Food Sourcing Farmers have begun
transitioning to fruits and vegetables to sell at
local shops and farmers markets. They keep
their land while rural residents get better
access to healthy foods.
45
Advocacy Opportunities

• Reactive Advocacy Work to prevent cuts in
  services.
• The Presidents current proposed budget for FY
  2007 includes cuts to the Food Stamp Program, WIC
  (serves women and children), the Commodity
  Supplemental Food Prgm. (primarily seniors), and
  Community Food and Nutrition Program.
• Proactive Advocacy Work to address root causes
  with new ideas.
• 2007 Farm Bill
• The Farm Bill sets national
  agriculture and food policy.
• Reviewed, changed and reauthorized every
  5 years.
• Advocacy for the 2007 Farm Bill could
  increase responsiveness of rural development
  policy to the needs of small farmers and rural
  communities.

46
Further Resources

• Food Security and Hunger in the United States
• Food Research and Action Center
• www.frac.org
• 2004 USDA Report on Hunger and Food Insecurity
  in the U.S.
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err11/
• Conditions and Trends of Food Insecurity in the
  U.S. (ERS Briefing)
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodSecurity/tr
  ends.htm
• Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs
• USDA Economic Research Service
  http//www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodNutritionAss
  istance/
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service Homepage (links
  to all federal nutrition assistance programs)
• http//www.fns.usda.gov/

47

• Maps
• Center for Disease Control, Behavioral Risk
  Factor Surveillance SystemMaps
• http//apps.nccd.cdc.gov/gisbrfss/default.aspx
• CDC Overweight and Obesity Trends 1985-2004
• http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/ma
  ps/
• USDA Economic Research Service Rural maps
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/Emphases/Rural/Gallery/
• Food Stamp Participation
• http//www.ers.usda.gov/data/foodstamps/
• National Anti-Hunger Organizations
• National Anti-Hunger Organizations (NAHO)
  coalition contact list
• http//www.results.org/website/article.asp?id96
  2
• Americas Second Harvest, The Nations Food Bank
  Network
• www.secondharvest.org
• Bread for the World
• www.bread.org

48

• Food Research and Action Center
• www.frac.org
• World Hunger Year (Information bank on food
  security and hunger)
• www.worldhungeryear.org
• Rural Assistance Center, Food Info Page
• http//www.raconline.org/info_guides/food/
• 2007 Farm Bill Info and Advocacy Organizations
• USDA Farm Bill Information Page
• http//www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/farmbill/default.asp
  
• Community Food Security Coalition
• www.foodsecurity.org
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Statement on
  Agriculture)
• http//www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/200510ag.htm
• National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC)
• http//www.ncrlc.com/NewFarmBillCampaign.html