Magnitude and Complexity of the Hunger Problem Bruno

Magnitude and Complexity of the Hunger Problem Bruno Pillet Second Harvest Food Bank Vice President, Programs and Services

Objectives • What is the size of the hunger problem in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties? • How can at-risk members of the community be segmented so that Second Harvest can mobilize the community to eliminate hunger?

Interview Methodology • 750 in-person interviews throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties – April through July 2016 • 500 interviews conducted at 30 Second Harvest Food Bank sites • 250 interviews conducted at sites, such as parks, discount grocery stores, recycling centers and lowincome clinics Santa Clara

Methodology: Sizing Food Insecurity Use nine questions to identify food insecurity Derive key predictors (income, family status, etc. ) Apply predictors to Census data Estimate the size of food insecure population

Key Findings

What Led to Their Food Insecurity? It is first an income problem, but rising cost of living is close behind Situations Leading to Food Insecurity 38% 37% 36% 34% 31% Do not make enough money to always be able to pay for food Retirement/social security income is not enough to pay for all of my needs Had a hard time finding a job My rent went up so I can't afford as much food Gas/transportation costs went up so I can't afford as much food Lost a job Unexpected healthcare expenses I cannot find full-time work so am only working part-time Don't get enough hours and make less money than I did in a previous job Currently on disability and the benefits are not enough to cover my needs Ongoing healthcare expenses Hours were cut at my job No longer eligible to collect unemployment My unemployment ran out Have been foreclosed upon or evicted from my home 26% 25% 24% 23% 22% 21% 18% 17%

Attitudinal Differences Between Recipients and Non-Recipients? 0% Next meal is a constant worry 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 70% 80% 31% Make regular sacrifices to afford food 59% Willing to sacrifice other items 53% Willing to accept help 48% Hard time asking for help 52% I am embarrased to ask for help 52% I am embarrased to be seen going to a food bank Recipients Non-Recipients 51% Accept food assitance from family 44% Understands how to get help 42% Find it easy to get food at a FB or pantry 59% People should be able to get food for their kids 69% Prefer to use government programs Don't ask for help b/c of citizenship concerns 60% 47% 31%

Segments: What Did We Learn? Retired Strivers BARRIERS ● Do we qualify? ● Need info ● Limited mobility ● Do we qualify? ● Need info ● Worry what people will think Immigration Concerns ● Need info ● Do we qualify? ● Don’t know how to get help ● Worry about citizenship Homeless ● Limited mobility ● Transportation ● Need info ● No place to cook COMMUNICATION ● Word of mouth ● Friends / family ● Place of worship

What Will the Food Bank Do? • Robust marketing to food-insecure families • Adjust services to facilitate access • Expand partnerships with: – Schools: families with children – Low-income housing service providers: seniors and families – Clinics: all – Colleges: young adults • Increase focus on client experience