• About the Study
• Methodology
• Key Findings
• Who We Serve
• How We Serve
• Local Picture
• Snapshot Comparisons
  • Selected Subgroups
  • Income & Other Variables
  • Metropolitan Status
  • Choices
    • Food Security
    • Structure
  • Food Stamp Receipt
  • Food Stamps & Food Security
  • Three Study Comparison
• Media Center

Household Trade-Offs and Food Security (15.5.1)

Facing direct trade-offs among necessities is a strong indicator of food insecurity (Table 15.5.1).

As shown in Table 15.5.1, regardless of the kind of trade-offs, households that are food insecure with hunger are much more likely to indicate that they face the trade-off than are the food secure households.  Specific results include:

• 10.5% of the households categorized as food secure, 31.4% of those categorized as food insecure without hunger, and 51.0% of those categorized as food insecure with hunger had to choose between food and medical care during the past year.
• 13.8% of the households categorized as food secure, 44.3% of those categorized as food insecure without hunger, and 63.1% of those categorized as food insecure with hunger had to choose between food and utilities (or heating fuel) during the past year.
• 9.8% of the households categorized as food secure, 35.0% of those categorized as food insecure without hunger, and 57.4% of those categorized as food insecure with hunger had to choose between food and rent (or mortgage) during the past year.

 

Table 15.5.1
FOOD SECURITY STATUS AND HOUSEHOLD TRADE-OFFS

		Food Security Status of Client Households
	All Client Households	Food Secure	Food Insecure Without Hunger	Food Insecure with Hunger
Choose between food and medical care
Yes	31.7%	10.5%	31.4%	51.0%
No	68.3%	89.5%	68.6%	49.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	51,402	15,206	19,103	17,093
Choose between food and utilities or heating fuel
Yes	41.5%	13.8%	44.3%	63.1%
No	58.5%	86.2%	55.7%	36.9%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	51,390	15,200	19,084	17,106
Choose between food and rent or mortgage
Yes	35.0%	9.8%	35.0%	57.4%
No	65.0%	90.2%	65.0%	42.6%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	51,356	15,184	19,083	17,089

Notes:  
Item nonresponses to all variables involved were excluded in calculating percentages and sample sizes.

Statistically significant based on chi-square test (d.f. = 2) at the 1% level.