1 March 2011: Hunger and homelessness are among the most pressing issues faced by US cities. During 2010 the number of people experiencing homelessness increased across major cities by an average of two per cent, while request for emergency food assistance rose by 24 per cent. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said: “Even working families are increasingly facing hunger and homelessness as a result of the crippled economy and rising unemployment.”
For more than a quarter century, The US Conference of Mayors has documented the magnitude of the issues of hunger and homelessness in American cities as well as efforts cities are making to address these challenges. The 2010 report ‘Hunger and Homelessness in US Cities’ which covers the period September 2009 to August 2010, shows the impact of rising unemployment and housing costs as well as low wages on America’s most vulnerable sections of urban society.
Asheville (NC) Mayor Terry Bellamy said while there was currently an historic effort to restore America‘s economy, the effects of hunger and homelessness were clearly evident in America‘s cities and urban centers.
Main findings
Hunger
Homelessness
MAIN FINDINGS
Hunger
• Every city surveyed reported that requests for emergency food assistance increased over the past year, and those requests increased by an average of 24 per cent across the cities.
• Among those requesting emergency food assistance, 56 per cent were persons in families, 30 per cent were employed, 19 per cent were elderly, and 17 per cent were homeless.
• Unemployment led the list of causes of hunger cited by the survey cities, followed by high housing costs, low wages, poverty, and lack of access to SNAP/food stamps.
• Cities reported a 17 per cent average increase in the number of pounds of food distributed during the last year. All but one of the cities saw an increase in the number of pounds of food distributed; in that one city, it remained the same. Nearly three in four (74 per cent) of the cities reported that their total budget for emergency food purchases increased over the last year; four cities said it decreased; two said it remained the same. Across the responding cities, the average increase in the budget for emergency food purchases was 18.5 per cent.
• Increasing SNAP benefits and providing more providing more affordable housing led the city official’s list of action actions needed to reduce hunger. These were followed by employment training programs and utility assistance programs.
• All but one of the cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase over the next year, with that increase expected to be moderate in 69 per cent of the survey cities and substantial in 27 per cent. One city expects requests to remain at the same level.
• Fifty-six per cent of the cities expect resources to provide emergency food assistance will decrease moderately over the next year; eight per cent expect them to decrease substantially; 32 per cent expect them to continue at about the same level. One city expects a moderate increase in these resources.
• Increasing demand and decreasing resources, particularly relating to federal and state budget problems, were cited most frequently by the cities as the biggest challenge to addressing hunger in their areas in the coming year.
Homelessness
• Over the past year, the number of persons experiencing homelessness increased across the survey cities by an average of two per cent, with 52 per cent of the cities reporting an increase, 36 per cent reporting a decrease, and three cities saying it stayed the same.
• Among families, the number experiencing homelessness increased across the survey cities by an average of nine per cent, with 58 per cent reporting an increase, 21 per cent reporting a decrease, and 21 per cent saying it stayed the same.
• Among unaccompanied individuals, the number experiencing homelessness over the past year increased across the survey cities by an average of 2.5 per cent, with 44 per cent reporting an increase, 39 per cent reporting a decrease, and 17 per cent saying it stayed the same.
• Among households with children, unemployment led the list of causes for homelessness cited by city officials. It was followed by lack of affordable housing, poverty, low-paying jobs, and domestic violence. Lack of affordable housing led the list of causes of homelessness among unaccompanied individuals, followed by mental illness and the lack of needed services, substance abuse and the lack of needed services, and poverty.
• Cities reported that, on average, 24 per cent of homeless adults are severely mentally ill, 20 per cent are physically disabled, 19 per cent are employed, 14 per cent are victims of domestic violence, 14 per cent are also veterans, and three per cent are HIV Positive.
• Across the survey cities, an average of 27 per cent of homeless persons needing assistance over the last year did not receive it. Because no beds are available for them, emergency shelters in 64 per cent of the survey cities must turn away families with children experiencing homelessness; shelters in 68 per cent of the cities must turn away unaccompanied individuals.
• More than seven in 10 (71 per cent) of the survey cities have adopted policies and/or implemented programs aimed at preventing homelessness among households that have lost, or may lose, their homes to foreclosure.
• Providing more mainstream assisted housing led the list of actions needed to reduce homelessness in the survey cities. This was followed by providing more permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, and having more or better-paying employment opportunities.
• Officials in 72 per cent of the survey cities expect the number of homeless families to increase over the next year; those in 28 per cent expect it to continue at about the same level; one city expects a moderate decrease. Officials in 77 per cent of the cities expect the number of homeless unaccompanied individuals to increase over the next year; those in 19 per cent expect it to continue at about the same level; one city expects a moderate decrease.
• Officials in 48 per cent of the survey cities expect resources to provide emergency shelter to decrease over the next year; those in another 48 per cent expect resources to continue at about the same level; one city expects a moderate increase.
HUNGER
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that, in 2009, 14.7 per cent of American households were food insecure, meaning that at some point they lacked sufficient food for an active, healthy life for all household members. This represents the highest level of food insecurity since the government began tracking the issue in 1995. In 2009, 50.2 million people lived in food- insecure households, including 17.2 million children. Within this group were 12.2 million adults and 5.4 million children who lived in households with very low food security.1
Every city surveyed reported that the number of requests for emergency food assistance increased over the past year. Across the cities, the number of requests for food assistance increased by an average of 24 per cent. Nearly one-third (32 per cent) of the cities surveyed reported that demand for assistance increased by 30 per cent or more. The rate of increase ranged from 62 per cent in Philadelphia and 60 per cent in Des Moines to nine per cent in Boston, eight per cent in Phoenix and Dallas, and two per cent in Portland.
Among those requesting emergency food assistance, 56 per cent were persons in families, 30 per cent were employed, 19 per cent were elderly, and 17 per cent were homeless. (These categories are not mutually exclusive and the same person can be included in more than one.)
Nine in 10 of the cities reported an increase in the number of persons requesting food assistance for the first time. Among these, 68 per cent characterized the increase in first-time requests as substantial; 32 per cent characterized it as moderate.
Increased requests for food assistance were accompanied by more frequent visits to food pantries and emergency kitchens. Nine in 10 of the 20 cities able to respond to the question reported an increase in the frequency that persons visit food pantries and/or emergency kitchens each month. Among these, 55 per cent characterized the increase in frequency as moderate; 45 per cent said it was substantial.
When asked to identify the three main causes of hunger in their cities, most survey cities (88.5 per cent) named unemployment; this was followed by high housing costs (by one-half of the cities), low wages and poverty (each cited by 46 per cent), lack of access to SNAP (by 27 per cent of the cities), and medical or health costs (by 15 per cent).
Based on current projections of economic conditions and unemployment for their cities, officials in all but one of the cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase over the next year. Some 69 per cent of the survey cities expect that increase to be moderate; 27 per cent expect it to be substantial. One city expects requests to remain at the same level.
Based on the current state of public and private agency budgets, 56 per cent (14) of the cities expect resources to provide emergency food assistance will decrease moderately over the next year, and eight per cent (two cities) expect them to decrease substantially. Nearly one-third of the cities (eight) expect these resources to continue at about the same level. Cleveland expects a moderate increase in resources.
The cities were asked to identify what they expect will be the biggest challenge to addressing hunger in their area in the coming year. Most frequently cited were increasing demand and decreasing resources, particularly relating to federal and state budget problems.
HOMELESSNESS
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report found that, for the second straight year, the number of sheltered homeless families (a household that includes an adult 18 years of age or older and at least one child) increased, while the number of sheltered homeless individuals dropped. In 2009, approximately 1,035,000 individuals used sheltered or transitional housing at some time during the year, as did 535,000 people who were there as part of a family. Slightly more than 170,000 families were sheltered homeless in 2009 - about a 30 per cent increase since 2007.
Over the past year, the total number of persons experiencing homelessness increased in 52 per cent (13) of the 27 cities surveyed by the Conference of Mayors, decreased in 36 per cent (nine) of the cities; and stayed the same in three of the cities (Asheville, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis). Across these cities, there was an overall increase of two per cent in the total number of persons experiencing homelessness. The change ranged from a 26 per cent decrease in Des Moines and a 12 per cent decrease in Kansas City, to an 11 per cent increase in Providence, 14 per cent increase in Charlotte, 15 per cent increase in Nashville, and 26 per cent increase in Charleston.
The survey cities reported that, over the past year, the number of homeless families increased in 58 per cent (14) of the cities, decreased in 21 per cent (five) of the cities, and stayed the same in 21 per cent of the cities. Across the cities, there was an overall increase of nine per cent in the total number of families experiencing homelessness. The change ranged from an 81 per cent increase in Charleston, 36 per cent increase in Charlotte, and 31 per cent increase in Portland, to a one per cent decline in Boston, two per cent decline in Louisville and Norfolk, six per cent decline in Phoenix, and 38 per cent decline in Gastonia.
When asked to identify the three main causes of homelessness among their households with children, 76 per cent (19) of the cities cited unemployment, 72 per cent (18) cited lack of affordable housing, 56 per cent (14) cited poverty, 24 per cent (six) cited domestic violence, and one-fifth (five) cited low- paying jobs.
The survey cities reported that, over the past year, the number of unaccompanied homeless individuals increased in 44 per cent (10) of the responding cities, decreased in 39 per cent (nine) of the cities, and stayed the same in 17 per cent (four) of the cities. Across the cities, there was an overall increase of 2.5 per cent in the total number of unaccompanied individuals experiencing homelessness. The change ranged from a 46 per cent increase in Minneapolis, a 25 per cent increase in Charleston, and a 20 per cent increase in Providence, to a 17 per cent decrease in Cleveland, an 18 per cent decrease in Gastonia, a 20 per cent decrease in Des Moines, and a 31 per cent decrease in Sacramento.
When asked to identify the three main causes of homelessness among unaccompanied individuals, 31 per cent of the cities (eight) cited the lack of affordable housing, 19 per cent (five) cited mental illness and the lack of needed services, another 19 per cent cited substance abuse and the lack of needed services, and 15 per cent (four) cited poverty.
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