Michigan report shows a 7-year, 53% hike in child food assistance
Michigan experienced a 53 percent increase in the rate of young children who qualified for federal food assistance between 2005 and 2012, according to a study on child health released today.
The annual Kids Count in Michigan report found more than 1 in every 3 children (37 percent) qualified for nutritional help because their families were living on less than $31,000 a year for a two-parent, two-child family.
"Though the recession officially ended years ago, the toll on children is still apparent with the persistently high number of children living in need," said Jane Zehnder-Merrell, Kids Count in Michigan director at the Michigan League for Public Policy. "It's especially troubling that young children are growing up in poverty because research shows a deeper lifelong impact of deprivation during early childhood."
The report comes out one day after The Detroit News reported hunger is spreading in Detroit's suburbs. Food banks are experiencing more hunger and hardship in the suburbs, with a tremendous increase in need seen in Oakland and Macomb counties, the story reported.
http://m.detnews.com/metro/article?a=2013312170019&f=1211
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