Hunger and homelessness
persists in American cities
A report by the US Conference of Mayors

23 December 2007: Although more than 85 per cent of America’s wealth is generated in its cities, severe poverty persists in most of the country’s urban areas. A report by the US Conference of Mayors says high housing costs and the lack of affordable housing were a major cause of homelessness in households with children, as well as a major cause of hunger. The survey also notes the recent spike in foreclosures, the increased cost of living in general and the increased cost of food as major causes of hunger in America. Cities reported that they are not able to meet the need for providing shelter for homelessness people, with more than half of cities admitting that they turned people away some or all of the time.

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Key findings
• The main causes of hunger in survey cities are poverty, unemployment and high housing costs.
• Food Stamp benefits not keeping up with the increasing price of food is also a major factor.
• Sixteen (eighty per cent) of survey cities reported that requests for emergency food assistance increased during the last year. Among fifteen cities that provided data, the median increase was 10 per cent.
• The most commonly cited way to reduce hunger is through more affordable housing.
• Among households with children, common causes of homelessness other than of the lack of affordable housing are poverty and domestic violence. Among single individuals, the most common causes are mental illness and substance abuse.
• During 2007, members of households with children made up 23 per cent of persons using emergency shelter and transitional housing programs in survey cities, while single individuals made up 76 percent. Only one percent of persons in these programs were unaccompanied youth.
• Six cities reported an increase in the overall number of homeless persons accessing emergency shelter and transitional housing programs during the last year. Ten cities cited a specific increase in households with children. Seven cities reported a decrease in the number of individuals accessing emergency shelter and transitional housing programs.
• Disability is more prevalent among homeless singles than among adults in households with children. Rates of disability
(mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, physical and developmental disabilities) were approximately three times greater for singles than for adults in households with children.
• The average length of stay for persons in emergency shelter and transitional housing decreased from 2006. Cities reported that for households with children, the average length of a stay was 5.7 months in 2007. For singles, the average length of a single stay was reported as 4.7 months. In 2006, cities reported that an average length of stay was 8 months for both populations.

Hunger
Hunger remains a significant problem in the United States. In 2005, an estimated 12.6 million households nationally were food insecure at some time during the year, meaning that a lack of resources prevented them from providing enough food for all members of the household. Food insecurity is more prevalent in large cities and rural areas than in suburbs. In addition, households that have low-incomes, low levels of education, are headed by a single female, are headed by Black, Hispanic or Native Americans, rent their homes, live in the central city of a metropolitan area, have three or more children, are unemployed, have a disabled household member, or are non-citizens are more likely than others to be food insecure.

Individuals and families facing food insecurity rely on community-based direct providers and federal assistance programs. Local governments and non-profit agencies operate emergency assistance programs like food pantries, emergency kitchens and home-delivered meal programs. These programs rely on donated food, as well as USDA commodities distributed through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Other food assistance is available through federal programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Food Stamp Program (FSP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Increases in the price of heating oil, gasoline and rents have resulted in record numbers of individuals and families seeking food assistance during the last year. At the same time, the availability of food assistance has decreased due to a sharp drop in the supply of commodity foods from the federal Agriculture Department’s Bonus Commodity Program and a decrease in donations from supermarkets brought about by improved inventory tracking. The combination of increased demand and decreased supply has led food banks across the country to report critical shortages.

The survey’s authors say the main causes of hunger are:
• Unemployment and other employment related problems
• High housing costs
• Poverty or lack of income
• Medical or health costs
• Substance abuse
• Utility costs
• Mental health problems
• Transportation costs
• Lack of education

Homelessness
The majority of individuals and families experiencing homelessness are located in urban areas. According to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, there were an estimated 335,000 sheltered homeless persons on an average day between February and April 2005. Some 75 per cent of sheltered homeless persons resided in central cities. High poverty rates and the lack of affordable housing in cities may contribute to an increased rate of homelessness. In addition, individuals and families experiencing homelessness often relocate to cities to utilize the greater number of supportive services there. Cities have a greater number of emergency and transitional shelters, as well as permanent housing options for disabled persons. The availability off federal housing assistance programs, such as the Housing Choice Voucher program, sometimes is greater in cities. Homeless persons and families may also have greater access to mental health and substance abuse services, education and employment opportunities, and food assistance programs in cities.

The survey’s authors say the main causes of homelessness are:
• Mental illness and the lack of needed services
• Lack of affordable housing
• Low-paying jobs
• Domestic violence
• Family disputes
• Substance abuse and the lack of needed services
• Prisoner re-entry
• Unemployment
• Poverty
• Sexual orientation
• Emancipation from foster care

Participants
The participating cities in the survey were:
• Boston, MA • Charleston, SC • Charlotte, NC • Chicago, IL • Cleveland, OH • Denver, CO • Des Moines, IA • Detroit, MI • Kansas City, MO • Los Angeles, CA • Louisville, KY • Miami, FL • Nashville, TN • Philadelphia, PA • Phoenix, AZ • Portland, OR • Providence, RI • Salt Lake City, UT • San Francisco, CA • Santa Monica, CA • Seattle, WA • St. Paul, MN • Trenton, NJ