Hunger & Poverty Coping Strategies. Key Issues to Consider Define vulnerability to hunger in the United States and in lesser developed countries Note.

Hunger & Poverty

Coping Strategies

Key Issues to Consider

• Define vulnerability to hunger in the United States and in lesser developed countries

• Note that marginalized, indigenous populations, the disenfranchised, landless, illiterate, & uneducated are most at risk

Conclusion: Three Nested Concepts

No current hunger, but vulnerability to it

It can take many forms, including Protein Energy Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies

FoodFood InsecurityInsecurity Hunger Hunger Under-nutritionUnder-nutrition

Food Security Framework

Hunger statusHunger status

Inadequate foodInadequate foodAvailabilityAvailability

Elements of Elements of vulnerabilityvulnerability

• • Physical and environmental risksPhysical and environmental risks• • Economic and market risksEconomic and market risks• • Social and health risksSocial and health risks

Inappropriate foodInappropriate foodutilizationutilization

Inadequate foodInadequate foodaccessaccess

Chronic, Acute, or Hidden Hunger• Chronic Hunger • Occurs when people suffer from hunger for long periods.

Hunger becomes their normal condition.

• Acute Hunger• Occurs when people suffer from hunger for short periods,

usually due to shocks such as drought or conflict

• Hidden Hunger• Occurs when people lack essential micronutrients, even if

the consume adequate amounts of calories and protein

Hunger in the USA

• The ability of people to obtain sufficient food for their household (e.g. skipping meals or cutting back on the quality/quantity of food they purchase at the stores)

• Recurring and involuntary lack of access to food can lead to malnutrition over time.

• Hunger, generally, in a less severe form, than in most developing countries.

Who are the food insecure in the US?

The AUMC Food Pantry served its first visitor in September, 2000•Most of our visitors are female and represent a family of 2.5.

• In 2001, they served almost 400 families (an average of 18 visitors per week)

• In 2001, each visitor received about 50 pounds of food per visit.

• In 2009, they served almost 2,000 visitors (an average of 85 visitors per week)

• In 2009, each visitor received about 79 pounds of food per visit

Local Auburn Example

Causes of Food Insecurity

• Food insecurity is linked to poverty which in turn is linked to underemployment, and the cost of housing and other basic needs

Other Causes • Lack of affordable housing• Lack of education and employment skills• Insufficient community food resources• Reluctance of people to accept charity• Mental illness, depression, and loneliness• Alcoholism and chronic substance abuse

Federal/State Nutrition Programs Help to provide a safety net for many

low-income families

• National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program• Federal Food Stamp Program (SNAP)• Other Federal Programs• State Programs

Main Idea

Hunger & Poverty are intimately linked

Hunger is a condition of poverty

“Living below the poverty line puts tremendous strains on a household, giving families barely enough money to purchase healthy and nutritious foods, as well as other essentials of life. Nutrition research shows that as income goes down, the nutritional adequacy of the household's diet goes down as well.”

Coping Mechanisms• Skipping meals• Dumpster Diving• Sharing among family members (e.g. milk)• Utilizing emergency services• Reliance on Family & Friends

Note discrepancies found in the readings between rural vs. urban poverty & hunger

Further DiscussionReminder:

Please read articles & participate in online discussion

Major themes:Food Insecurity of Single Mothers

Linkages between Poverty & HungerHuman Trafficking & Hunger

WFP Hunger Map

See wfp.org website

Flood

River-erosion

Cyclone

Major natural disasters that contribute to vulnerability

Districts Vulnerable to Disasters

Livelihoods in Bangladesh are

seriously affected by the extent of flooding

every year

TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WRONG PLACES

Distress saleDistress sale Seasonal migration for employmentSeasonal migration for employment

Sale of productive assets

Sale of productive assets

Loan/borrowing at high interest rates Loan/borrowing at high interest rates

The northern part of Bangladesh is highly food insecureThe northern part of Bangladesh is highly food insecure

What do people do in a crisis?

Sale of labor and crops in advance at

cheap rate

Sale of labor and crops in advance at

cheap rate

Survival Strategies of the Ultra-Poor

Other Coping Strategies in the Developing World

• Destitute farmers will begin eating their seeds, which cuts off their livelihood

• Urban migration– Begging– Human Trafficking– Major Stress on Family & Social Structures– Broken Family Unit– Illegal Immigration

How are Global and Domestic Hunger Similar?

• Hunger affects the poor - the hungry poor of any country

• Hunger in the US can be “transitory”• Definition, location differs slightly• Key issue is a country/government’s “tool kit”• Affects women and children the most• Negative affect on the national economy –

opportunity costs of hunger

How are Global and Domestic Hunger Similar?

• When we look at human development we see similar trends for the hungry poor– Intergenerational cycles of hunger– Lack of access to education & resources– Negative effects of hunger on brain development– Weakening of the immune system– More prone to disease– Often the hungry poor are forced to make health

vs. food decisions

How are Global and Domestic Hunger Similar?

• When we look at long term/societal impacts we see a similar trend– Intergenerational cycles of hunger within certain

regions of society– Lack of access to education & resources continues

this trend– Negative effects of hunger on brain development

(i.e. less brain capital for positive societal contributions, low literacy rates,unemployment etc.)

How are Global and Domestic Hunger Similar?

• When we look at long term/societal impacts we see a similar trend– Weakening of the immune system & higher

disease rates mean higher health costs for the general population to bear

– Often the hungry poor are forced to make health vs. food decisions which keeps them from contributing to society