Hunger in the DC Metro Area >

ABOUT HUNGER

Hunger and poverty are directly correlated.  In the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, there are approximately 633,000 residents are at risk of, or experiencing hunger.  (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). 

The Capital Area Food Bank defines poverty based upon 185 percent of the federal government poverty guidelines.  This means that a household may earn up to 185 percent of the U.S. government's standard of poverty and still be considered "in poverty."  This measure is utilized by the federal government to determine eligibility for many government programs.

The poverty rate for children below 18 years of age in the District of Columbia is 48.2 percent compared with 36.4 percent nationally.  Approximately 200,000 children are at risk of hunger in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area – 56,000 in the District alone or 1 in 2 children.  In Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, 1 in 5 children is at risk of hunger and in Northern Virginia, 1 in 6. (US Census 2000 and US Census, CPS, 2007 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (POV46).

As alarming as these statistics are, they only tell part of the story of hunger in our community:

• The participation rate of the working poor in D.C. in the Food Stamp Program (now called SNAP) is only 36 percent. (USDA FY2005). 
• The average monthly Food Stamp Program(SNAP) benefit per person in D.C. is $100.12; in Maryland, $93.67; and in Virginia, $89.23. (USDA FY2007) 
• Nearly 50 percent of the households served report at least one working adult in the household.   (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. 2006).