Hunger in Texas
Could you stand to go without eating for an entire day because there is no food in the pantry and no money in your pocket and still be effective at work or school? Minimum wage in the US is now $5.85 per hour. That’s 11,700 before taxes.
The Federal Poverty Guideline is $20,000 for a family of four.
- In 2008, food prices nationwide have increased 9%
- Of Texans receiving food assistance from agencies, agencies report that:
- 33% choose between food and medicine
- 41% choose between paying utility bills and buying food
- 74% have incomes below the Federal Poverty Guideline ($20,000 annually for a family of four)
- 68% are food insecure
Food insecurity includes not having enough food, reducing the quality of food purchased, feeding children unbalanced diets, or skipping meals so children can eat.
The Gleaning Network of Texas
- Spends only about 8 cents per pound to glean and transport produce
- Provides the produce to local food assistance agencies at no cost
- Works to increase the quality of nutrition, which creates a healthier environment for education and work.
North Texas
In the 12-county area of North Texas, the total population is 5,197,129. The number of people living in poverty is 631,261. That’s an average poverty rate of 11.8% in the 12 counties. The average poverty rate for the state of Texas is 17.6%
| County | Total Pop | Pop in Poverty | % in Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collin | |||
| Dallas | |||
| Denton | |||
| Ellis | |||
| Hood | |||
| Hunt | |||
| Johnson | |||
| Kaufman | |||
| Parker | |||
| Rockwall | |||
| Tarrant | |||
| Wise | |||
Midland/Odessa
In the six county area around Midland and Odessa, the total population is 262,282. The number of people living in poverty is 40,391. That’s an average poverty rate of 15.4% in the six counties.
Population and Poverty by County:
| County | Total Pop. | Pop. in Poverty | % in Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews | 13,004 | 1,924 | 14.8% |
| Crane | 3,996 | 432 | 10.8% |
| Ector | 121,123 | 23,376 | 19.3% |
| Martin | 4,746 | 831 | 17.5% |
| Midland | 116,009 | 16,937 | 14.6% |
| Upton | 3,404 | 517 | 15.2% |
Statistics and information from the Food Research & Action Committee, the Texas Food Bank Network, and the 2000 U.S. Census
Austin/San Antonio
| County | Total Pop. | Pop. In Poverty | % in Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atascosa | 38,628 | 7,701 | 20.2% |
| Bandera | 17,645 | 1,895 | 10.8% |
| Bastrop | |||
| Bexar | |||
| Blanco | |||
| Burnet | |||
| Caldwell | |||
| Comal | |||
| Guadalupe | |||
| Hays | |||
| Kendall | |||
| Lee | |||
| Medina | |||
| Travis | |||
| Williamson | |||
| Wilson |