Hunger & Poverty Coping Strategies
Jan 16, 2016
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