3. America’s Hunger Bill
High poverty and hunger
rates among U.S. children
reduce the value of
economic output by Billion
several hundred billion
dollars annually.
Food insecurity for families
and communities has clear
economic consequences
that cross a number of
sectors.
Education
Health
Law Enforcement
Short-term expenditures to
put off the effects of
poverty and
unemployment on children
and youth could have
source:
4. We Pay for Poor Performance
U.S. economic output reduced by as
much as 4 percent of GDP each year
(roughly $500 billion), caused by:
Low productivity and earnings
Poor health
High levels of crime and incarceration
among adults who grew up poor
Failure of high school dropouts to
obtain diplomas costs the public
sector about $125 billion in lost
revenues each year.
Every percentage point increase in
the dropout rate each year would
reduce federal revenue by $5 billion “…likely a conservative
over time. estimate.”
- Penny Wise, Pound
Foolish
5. We Pay for Poor Health
Intermittent hunger Estimated
contributes to binge eating yearly
and overeating to cope with cost of
hunger-
stress and depression. related
Hunger in babies wreaks health
havoc on their metabolism expenses.
and makes them more
susceptible to obesity later
in life.
Medical costs of obesity
are estimated at $147
billion per year.
Hunger among children
affects cognitive
development and leads to
lower academic
6. How SNAP Helps
Nutrition programs like SNAP are one of the most cost-effective
ways to control rising healthcare costs, which pose a much
greater long-term threat to the nation’s economy than the cost
of nutrition programs.
SNAP Participants by
Age Group
Children Middle Age Elderly
8%
47%
45%
7. Greater Need than Ever
Of U.S.
14.5 Percent
populati
on is
food
insecur
e 201
$731
Average
monthly
gross
0
income for
all SNAP
The Great Recession has
households
only
tightened hunger’s grip on
American communities.
Keeping hunger at bay will
demand timely action from
government at all levels and civil
society.
8. How We Compare
The U.S. has
some of the
highest child
poverty and infant
mortality rates of
the developed
world.
United
source States
9. Ahead of the Curb: Philadelphia
Philadelphia has
set very
ambitious goals
for ending
hunger in its
neighborhoods.
It has
developed a
city-wide
prevention and
response
10. Your city or community can
join a greater movement
against hunger: The Hunger
Free Communities Network
This network combines the
efforts of:
Government
agencies, businesses, faith
groups, health service
providers, educational
institutions, civic
associations, foundations and
Connect with the organizationsresources at:
non-profit network and find
11. Read the 2013 Hunger Report
The most current policy
analysis on hunger—at
home and around the
world—and how to end
it.
Find interactive
tools, info-graphics, a
Christian study guide
and much more at the
www.hungerreport.or
hunger report website.
g
