New York Still Has the Hungriest Congressional Districts in America

New Data Released

• More than Half of NYC’s Districts Face Severe Food Hardships;
• One Fifth of Households with Kids in Metropolitan New York Lacked Food Money.

People in 7 of the 13 congressional districts in New York City faced severe food hardships, with more than 20 percent of residents in each of those districts lacking money for food in 2008-2009, according to just-released data collected by the Gallup Organization on behalf of the Washington, DC-based Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). The 16th Congressional District in the South Bronx, where more than one in three residents could not afford enough food, had the highest rate in the nation, and the 10th Congressional District in Central Brooklyn, where 30.8 percent faced food hardship, had sixth highest rate out of all the country’s 436 congressional districts. Moreover, every district in the city faced significant food hardships.

• Read the full report online at www.frac.org
• Click here to view the full press release.

Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Reps. Jose Serrano, Ed Towns, Charles Rangel, Speaker Christine Quinn, and Public Advocate Bill De Blasio Respond:

“The fact that more than half of New York City’s districts face severe food hardships is shocking and unacceptable,” Senator Charles Schumer said. “While so many children, seniors, and low income families are struggling to make ends meet during these tough economic times, something must be done to find immediate and permanent solutions to the skyrocketing hunger rates in New York City and across the country. This new report is a real wake-up call and I will do everything I can to combat this problem.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "The hunger crisis that exists throughout our communities and neighborhoods is nothing short of alarming. Millions of New Yorkers do not have enough money to buy food and lines for people waiting at emergency food pantries continue to grow longer. This is unacceptable. No parent should have to worry about when or how they will feed their children. We need to help New Yorkers hit hardest by this economy and develop long-term solutions to stem the city's soaring hunger rate. As the first New York senator to sit on the Agriculture Committee in over 40 years, I support legislation that would double federal funding to $500 million to provide for emergency food programs and services to New Yorkers in need."
“The data shows that our worst fears about this recession in the Bronx have come true—people are going hungry,” said Congressman José E. Serrano, who represents the 16th District. “This is a crisis that I intend to confront head on. We cannot accept food insecurity in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest nation in the world. I will be speaking with Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack, and asking his immediate assistance in meeting the food needs of the people of the Bronx.”
Said Congressman Charles Rangel "These numbers are a sobering reminder of how many families are struggling to meet their basic needs in these rough economic times. But they also illustrate that government can make a real difference. Even as unemployment climbed sharply, the food hardship rate in the survey dropped between 2008 and 2009. As the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud our Committee played a major role in producing legislation that reduced hardship by increasing payments to low-income families though increases in food stamps, tax benefits, unemployment insurance and other programs. In total, last year's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) targets over $160 billion of assistance specifically to low and moderate-income Americans. We need to continue to help those struggling the most, while also working more broadly to promote job growth."
Said Congressman Ed Towns, “With more than 200,000 hungry people in my congressional district, hunger in New York City is not a distant, isolated problem. That’s why I am committed to new and existing initiatives that provide sustenance to those who need it – like H.RES.210, which I co-sponsored to provide breakfast in schools as part of the National School Breakfast Program. With the hard work of organizations like the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, we can alleviate hunger in New York City and across the United States.”
Said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, "As today's report demonstrates, hunger remains a pervasive problem in neighborhoods across New York City. The Council has worked to get more New Yorkers enrolled in food stamps, and provide every community with access to healthy foods, but far too many of our neighbors still have trouble feeding their families. We must now redouble our efforts, working with the Coalition Against Hunger and our colleagues in government to help New Yorkers in need."