One in six Vermont children experience hunger. Many Vermonters find this number surprising. In the United States, a country with so much wealth, it is inconceivable that there are people who struggle to meet their basic needs. And yet, hunger is a daily reality for Americans in every state. Lack of affordable housing, low wages, high unemployment, a decrease in the number of local, affordable grocery stores, and lack of public transportation all contribute to hunger and food insecurity in Vermont.
Food Insecurity with Hunger in Vermont (2005-2007, from US Census)
Households that are classified as food insecure with hunger are those in which adults are likely to be hungry on a regular basis and children are hungry at least occasionally.
- 4.6% of all households are food insecure with hunger1
- 4.7% of Vermonters sometimes or often cannot afford enough to eat3
Emergency Food Utilized in Vermont
- 12,290 Vermont children depend on food shelves each month4
Hunger and Malnutrition in Children Has Effects on Health, Well-being, and Lifelong Success
Children living in food insecure homes are at greater risk for
- Poor health
- Nutritional deficiencies and obesity/overweight
- Developmental delays
- Poor academic achievement
- Depression, increased aggressive or hyperactive behavior
Federal Nutrition Programs Improve Health and Well-Being
- Participation in 3SquaresVT (formerly Food Stamps) reduces food insecurity and improves children’s diet quality
- Participation in 3SquaresVT and/or WIC decreases risk of poor health, anemia, and malnutrition
- 3SquaresVT and WIC participation is associated with decreases in child abuse
- Participation in 3SquaresVT and school meals reduces obesity in school-age girls
- Children in families with 3SquaresVT have higher achievement in math and reading
- Children who participate in school meals have improved diets and lower risk for diabetes
- Participation in school meals improves student behavior, social interactions, and academic performance
Click here for a printer-friendly version of Vermont Hunger Facts (.pdf).
To learn more about hunger in Vermont and its consequences, contact the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger at or 802-865-0255.
1 “Household Food Security in the United States, 2007,” www.ers.usda.gov. The food insecure households with hunger are a subset of the total food insecure households.
2 Data on Vermont children living in food insecure homes from 2005-2007 Current Population Surveys of the US Census, through DataFerrett. The percentage is 15.8% with a standard error of 2.2%.
3 Data from 2007 Vermonter Poll.
4 Emergency food data from “Report on the 2008 Survey of Vermont Food Shelves and Community Kitchens,” Planning, Policy and Regulation Unit, Economic Services Division, VT Dept for Children and Families, April 2008.
