Posted on 10/29/2005 9:12:02 AM PDT by Dubya
AUSTIN - A higher percentage of households in Texas were at risk of going hungry over the past three years than in any other state, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Agriculture Department. Between 2002 and 2004, more than 16 percent of Texas households were food insecure, meaning that at some point they had trouble providing enough food for all their family members, the USDA report said.
In nearly 5 percent of Texas households, at least one family member went hungry at least one time during that period because they couldn't afford enough food.
That's the fourth-highest rate in the country.
Nationwide, 11.4 percent of households were at risk of going hungry during that period, and 3.6 percent of U.S. households had at least one member go hungry, the USDA said.
While Texas consistently ranks among the top five states, this is the first time it leads the nation, said Celia Hagert, a senior policy analyst at the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities, which advocates more state spending on education and social programs.
Texas was one of just nine states to see statistically significant increases in food insecurity and hunger rates when the USDA compared three-year average rates for 1999-2001 and 2002-2004.
An average of nearly 14 percent of Texas households were at risk for hunger between 1999 and 2001, and an average of 3.6 percent of Texas households experienced hunger.
Nationally, an average of 10.4 percent of households were at risk for hunger between 1999 and 2001, and an average of 3.1 percent of households experienced hunger.
I wouldn't even begin to know what to feed a Texas home. This is a series situation.
Has anyone ever noticed that we have the fattest poor people in the world?
You better believe it!
Ya ... and we also have the "fattest" state, with all large Texas cities topping the list of fattest people.
So, did they figure out how many of those who went hungry were Illegal Aliens???? Somehow I don't think they did. Only Illegals would NOT know how to assist their families in this country. Wanna bet a large majority of those families were Illegals?
You racist,insensitive,sexist,homophobic.....(end sarcasm)
Is this why homes cost less in Texas? They haven't eaten much and so they must be skinny.
This term "food insecure " is garbage. My son is in nursing school and I was reading about this in one of his text books. The figures include people with lone star cards, low income, on unemployment etc. If someone misses a meal in this state it's by choice. The only ones that might fall thru the cracks are the people who might be out of work and too proud to ask. Even our street people look well fed. You know the one's that hold up the "hungry, work for food" signs? It's common to see someone handed a McDonalds bad instead of a dollar around here.
I just don't see any skinny people in Texas.
Boo hoo hoo..Have Texans gone soft in the head???
How many of those do you think have Lone Star cards?
somebody tell the AP that barbeque is made from brisket not tofu.
I's Hongry. Brings my foods here.
This smells as if, to cure this problem, we need large, daily deliveries of tortillas y frijoles from Los Angeles.
Than you haven't seen two of my daughters and 2 of my grandaughters. Sizes 2 to 6.
ROFLMAO!
Gotta love the leftist terminology....'at risk???'
Sooooooo no one has REALLY gone hungry yet, but (gasp) they might???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.