Nearly one in seven households in Michigan couldn't afford enough food at some point during the last year.
According to a report by the Michigan League for Public Policy, this number represents a 45 % increase in food insecurity over the last decade in Michigan.Karen Holcomb-Merrill is the policy director of the Michigan League for Public Policy. She says the number of hungry families in Michigan could continue to grow now that funding for the largest food assistance program in Michigan - known as SNAP - is being reviewed.
"Congress is expected to take up a bill dealing with SNAP and unfortunately the program is targeted for some pretty substantial cuts. This could have a real impact here in Michigan and we don't know the specifics of that yet but we understand that there will be people and families that would immediately lose their food assistance."
Holcomb-Merrill says policymakers and Michigan residents need to focus on increasing the amount of food assistance that is offered in Michigan. "Although some people are experiencing recovery from difficult economic times here in Michigan, many families are still struggling ... to put food on the table for their families."
About 1.8 million people currently participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Michigan.
-Lindsay Hall, Michigan Radio Newsroom
