Food insecurity on the rise in Mass., new study finds
Updated: 5:00 PM EDT Jun 6, 2022
THE STATES’ FOOD BANKS CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT A CRISIS MODE. >> MOST OF US KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S EXPERIENCED HUNGER IN THE PAST YEAR. DOUG: DR. LAUREN FIECHTNER IS THE SENIOR HEALTH AND RESEARCH ADVISOR AT THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BK.AN SHE SAYS A NEW SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE GBFB FOUND THAT 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE, OR 32% OF THE STATE’S ADULT POPULATION, SAID THEY WERE FOOD INSECURE. >> YEAH, IT REALLY MEANS THAT THAT FAMILY HAS ANSWERED THAT THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE FOODS THEY’D LIKE FOR AN ACTIVE HEALTHY LIFE. DOUG: THE STUDY, CONDUCTED IN LATE 2021 AND EARLY 2022, EXPAS NDON THE FINDINGS OF THE FIRST SURVEY CONDUCTED THE PREVIOUS YR.EA IN ADDITION TO A DISPROPORTIONED NUMBER OF THE REONSPDESNT IDENTIFYING AS LATINX OR BLACK, NEW DATA OFFERED INSIGHT TO FOOD INSECURITY WHEN IT COMES TO GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATN.IO >> LGBTQ+ WAS 51% OF ADUS INLT MA SSACHUSETTS, IDENTIFIED AT SOME POINT THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY THE FOODS THEY WAND.TE DOUG: THE REPO SRTITES SEVERAL KEY FACTORS FOR THE RISING NUMBERS. INCLUDED AMONG THEM, RISING INFLATION, THE END OF PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE, AND GROCERY STE PRICES THAT HAVE JUMPED 6.5% LAST YEAR. AS A RESULT, THE OVERALL NUMBERS HAVE GRO BWNY 200,000. >> FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO DECIDE, DO THEPAY Y THEIR UTILITIES BILLS, DO THEYAY P THEIR GAS BILLS, DO THEY PAY FOR GROCERIES, AND SO THAT’S WHAT FAMILIES A SRETRUGGLING WITH IN MASSACHUSETTS. DOUG: ANOTHER GLARING FINDING OF THIS NEW WORK HAS TO DO WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS SNAP. 45% OF ELIGIBLE ADULTS DON’T USE IT, AND 70% OF THOSE NOT ENROLLED DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE AS
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Food insecurity on the rise in Mass., new study finds
Updated: 5:00 PM EDT Jun 6, 2022
A new survey conducted by the Greater Boston Food Bank found that 1.8 million people or 32% of the state’s adult population said they were food insecure.
A new survey conducted by the Greater Boston Food Bank found that 1.8 million people or 32% of the state’s adult population said they were food insecure.
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