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Home > Food security and hunger in poor, mother-headed families in four US cities

Food security and hunger in poor, mother-headed families in four US cities

Priority: 
normal
Individual Author: 
Polit, Denise F.
London, Andrew S.
Martinez, John M.
Reference Type: 
Report
Research Methodology: 
Qualitative
Mixed Methods
Quantitative
Quantitative Descriptive
Nonexperimental Outcomes
Publisher: 
MDRC
Published Date: 
May, 2000
Published Date (Text): 
May, 2000
Page Range: 
1-42
Year: 
2000
Language(s): 
English
Public URL: 
https://www.mdrc.org/publication/food-security-and-hunger-poor-mother-headed-fam...
Abstract: 

Despite the strength of the American economy in the past few years, food insecurity and hunger continue to affect millions of American families. Drawing on 1998-1999 survey and ethnographic data from the Urban Change study (a multicomponent study of the implementation and effects of welfare reform in four large cities), this paper describes the food security of mother-headed families who were living in highly disadvantaged urban neighborhoods and who had received or were currently receiving cash welfare benefits. The families of four groups of women were compared: those who, at the time of the interview, worked and were no longer receiving welfare; those who combined welfare and work; nonworking welfare recipients; and those who neither worked nor were then receiving welfare. The survey results indicated that food insecurity in the prior year was high in all groups. Overall, about half the families were food insecure, and hunger was found in slightly more than 15 percent of the families. Moreover, in nearly one-third of the families there were food hardships that affected the children’s diets. Food insecurity was most prevalent among families where the mother had neither employment income nor welfare benefits. Food insecurity was lowest among the families where the mothers were working and no longer getting welfare, but even in this group 44.5 percent were food insecure, and nearly 15 percent had experienced hunger. Data from in-depth ethnographic interviews indicate that, in this population, women who are food secure nevertheless expend considerable energy piecing together strategies to ensure that there is an adequate amount of food available for themselves and their children. (Author abstract)

Target Populations: 
TANF Leavers
Unemployed
Single Parent Families
Geographic Focus: 
CA
Cleveland
FL
Los Angeles
Miami-Dade County
OH
PA
Philadelphia
Urban
Page Count: 
42
Copyright: 
Yes
Topical Area: 
TANF Policy, Services, and Benefits [1]
Keyword: 
Benefits [2]
Leavers [3]
Topical Area: 
Food Assistance [4]
Keyword: 
Food Security [5]
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) [6]
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) [7]
Share/Save [8]

Source URL: https://www.opressrc.org/content/food-security-and-hunger-poor-mother-headed-families-four-us-cities

Links
[1] https://www.opressrc.org/topics/tanf-policy-services-and-benefits
[2] https://www.opressrc.org/keywords/benefits
[3] https://www.opressrc.org/keywords/leavers-0
[4] https://www.opressrc.org/topics/food-assistance
[5] https://www.opressrc.org/keywords/food-security-0
[6] https://www.opressrc.org/keywords/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-and-children-wic-1
[7] https://www.opressrc.org/keywords/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snapfood-stamps-0
[8] https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opressrc.org%2Fcontent%2Ffood-security-and-hunger-poor-mother-headed-families-four-us-cities&title=Food%20security%20and%20hunger%20in%20poor%2C%20mother-headed%20families%20in%20four%20US%20cities