A new report by the San Diego Hunger Coalition(SDHC) unveils alarming numbers, shedding a spotlight on the current state of nutrition security in San Diego.
The Annual State of Hunger Address was presented by the coalition and partner groups such as the San Diego Food Bank, Nourish CA, and Sweetwater Union High School District, which displayed that a large portion of the county faces a complicated reality of hunger.
According to the report from the SDHC, the numbers indicate that nearly 1 in 4 San Diego residents are facing nutrition insecurity as of this summer, June 2023, which accounts for approximately 790,000 people. Within the hundreds of thousands of individuals, a large portion of the demographic affects vulnerable minority groups within San Diego County.
Moreover, the stats also display that around 30% of the affected population of the individuals are children, while 1 in 4 are adults, and 2 in 5 individuals with disabilities also face nutrition insecurity. The report also highlights language equity in services and general resources, as up to 13% of San Diegans are linked to limited English proficiency, which is over 300,000 of the individuals in the report’s demographic. As a result, the coalition’s report indicates that there is a complicated situation regarding food insecurity and a lack of resources in other areas.
Additionally, this incident drew attention to the underreporting of crucial expenses during the CalFresh application process, leading to households not receiving the full support they qualify for. In California, only 10% of eligible families report their dependent care and child expenses, while a mere 12% of eligible seniors report their medical expenses. This suggests a lack of awareness or clarity regarding which expenses can be reported for assistance programs.
A notable example underscored the confusion surrounding expense reporting on CalFresh applications for individuals experiencing homelessness. It is not explicitly mentioned that shelter expenses, such as motel fees or car-related expenditures for those living in their vehicles, can be included in the reporting process.
“We cannot ignore the sobering reality laid out in this report,” said Anahid Brakke, President & CEO of San Diego Hunger Coalition, emphasizing the urgency for collective action. “Receiving CalFresh and other types of food assistance can be the difference between making rent and becoming homeless.”
Overall, the findings underline the lack of comprehensive legislative measures to address these issues and boost awareness campaigns that shed light on the statistics regarding food insecurity in San Diego County.
To obtain additional details and access June 2023 data, maps, electoral district-specific dashboards, and issue briefs, visit www.sdhunger.org/research.
If we did not have the inflation and the high gas prices we would not be suffering this I as a senior citizen can only spend $75 a week on groceries I have to do without this barely covers anything nutritional it’s a bad situation I hope to elect a different president that will bring down inflation and gas costs I believe it’s also the bad policies of our governor Newsom