Hunger Facts

Population of Northern Illinois Food Bank's service area
Information from the US Census Bureau - Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates - released 12/2007
Population 3,913,752
Poverty 287,303 - Aggregate poverty level for counties served by NIFB is 7.3%.

Family Income
2008 Poverty income for a family of four is $21,200 per year or below. 12.0% of Illinois population is at or below poverty.
The housing wage to rent a 2-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Illinois is $15.95 -  245% of the Illinois minimum wage. This information can be found in the 2008 Report on Illinois Poverty which was released from the 2007 Illinois Poverty Summit. 

Hunger in America Study 2006
The statistical profile of local neighbors who visit Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens and Shelters in the area served by Northern Illinois Food Bank and its Agencies show these key characteristics:

• 33% of the members of households served by Northern Illinois Food Bank are children under 18 years old.

• 7% of the members of households served by Northern Illinois Food Bank are children age 0 to 5 years.

• 6% are elderly over 65 years old.

• Approximately 56.6% of clients are white; 27.5% are African American, 13.2% are Hispanic, and the remainder from other racial or ethnic groups.

• 38% of households include at least 1 employed adult.

• 67.7% of all client's households have an income of 130% or below the federal poverty level.

• 32.2% of the clients indicated that a job is the main source of income.

• 7% are homeless.

One in Eleven people in Illinois is Food Insecure
U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecure people as those who do not have regular access to enough safe, nutritious food for an active and healthy life. These households have reduced quality and variety of meals, and may have irregular food intake.

Some causes behind Hunger in the suburbs
The causes behind the growth in need for Food Assistance are numerous, but these factors are major contributors:

• As of January 2004, the Chicago and Northern Illinois Counties continue to lead Nation in unemployment at 6.3%.

• Increase in number of single parent households where income is not sufficient to support children properly.

• Elderly population is increasing due to longevity of life, and in some instances living longer that their resources.

• Population growth has brought with it the working poor that cannot keep pace with expenses of living in today's modern suburban areas.