Summary
Food insecurity has increased significantly among low-income Californians over the last decade. Authors use data from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to analyze rates if food insecurity from 2001 to 2009 and which populations and which geographic areas were most affected.
Findings: 3.8 million adults in households with incomes at or below 200% federal poverty level (FPL) could not afford enough food at least once in the previous year. Low-income households with children and Spanish-speaking households suffered from the worst levels of food insecurity. Expanding nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, could help reduce high rates of food insecurity among the low-income population.
Expanding nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, could help reduce high rates of food insecurity among the low-income population.
