America’s economic downturn has mixed consequences for impoverished, working poor and food insecure households. Food prices are more inflated than ever, making it difficult for some to purchase enough to eat. Oil prices started the trend by increasing fuel costs. Commodities “marched to historic highs in July,” coinciding with an all-time peak in the price-per-barrel of crude oil.
A recent report on Money Morning notes that “Despite the decrease in gas prices, the inflation of food prices has not yet caught up and remains high,” forecasting prices to remain high at least at the beginning of 2009.
For some, the rising cost of food has resulted in the “heat or eat” dilemma, meaning that families must choose between paying for utilities or grocery bills, noted Dr. Stephen J. Scanlan, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Ohio University. For some, the decision is, “I need to either keep my lights on or put food on the plate."
Petitioning Obama
Forty senators approached President Obama before his inauguration to advocate for ending childhood hunger. One politician wrote, "Deteriorating economic conditions and rising food insecurity and child hunger make it imperative that additional steps be taken to increase access to these programs.”
“We are in the perfect storm of high food prices, growing joblessness, and reduced donations and government spending...and at the eye of the storm are those who are poor and middle class.”
The Huffington Post’s analysis
A Persistent Problem
Nick Claussen, Community Relations Coordinator for the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, noted that the national economy has taken its toll in the Athens area. “Unemployment has been pretty high in recent years. The economy is causing factories to shut down,” Claussen said. “In Athens County, a lot of businesses left during the past four or five years and haven’t been replaced.” But all of them would agree on one thing, as Claussen said, “A lot of people are working and just can’t get enough to pay.”
VISIT these sites to read local stories on hunger across the country:
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