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As some governors re-enforce partial or total Covid lockdowns across the nation, many Americans are concerned about being able to feed their families. Food insecurity is highest in states with lockdowns and restrictions.
The report finds that fewer than half of households with children are “very confident” they can afford food over the next four weeks, while 5.6 million households with children reported struggling to afford food in the last seven days.
The numbers are highest in states re-inforcing Covid restrictions and lockdowns. Unemployment remains high in states like California, New York, New Jersey and Michigan, while it is dropping to near pre-pandemic levels in non-restricted states like Missouri and Florida.
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“Delay can be costly, as food insecurity among children can have long-lasting negative consequences,” said Joseph Llobrera, director of research at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. “For infants and young children, the lack of access to good nutrition can lead directly to poorer lifelong outcomes. School-aged children who don’t get enough to eat may have more difficulty learning in school, which can translate to lower high school completion rates and lower earnings potential.
“While the risk is greatest for children who chronically lack sufficient food, the shock of becoming food insecure may itself affect children’s behavior, and living in a household that’s even temporarily food insecure is linked with negative development among toddlers.”
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U.S. Census data show that in the United States, 12 percent of households with children reported that their household sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat in the last seven days. Some 9 percent of households with children reported that they are “not at all confident” that they will be able to afford the kinds of food they need for the next four weeks, while 56 percent reported that they are less than “very confident.” This means they are only “moderately,” “somewhat,” or “not at all” confident that they will be able to be able to afford the kinds of food they need for the next four weeks.Bottom of Form
“More than four in 10 children live in households that are struggling to cover such basic costs as food, rent or mortgage, car payments, medical expenses, or student loans,” Llobrera said.
Covid food insecurity is expected to get worse as more states re-institute restrictions.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
