WVU in the News: Rural hunger: West Virginia braces for federal program changes
While rural hunger has been on the decline in recent years, it still affects many Americans. Researchers, advocates and families who struggle with empty bellies say upcoming changes to federal programs might put any progress at risk.
“I was a full-time Head Start teacher when I qualified for SNAP benefits,” said Amy Jo Hutchison, a northern West Virginia resident, who now works for Our Future West Virginia, an anti-hunger advocacy group. She’s a single mom who’s been on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program before.
Though she no longer qualifies, she said the program helped her immensely, a fact that has led her to fight stereotypes. “If they don’t think you’re eating steak and lobster, they think you’re filling your buggie full of ice cream, potato chips and pop,” she said, and those misconceptions have consequences.
As it is, the program helps more than 16% of West Virginians put food on the table, according to the USDA. Although food insecurity in rural communities decreased from a high of 14.9% to 11.1% from 2011 to 2018, rates in rural areas are still about 3% higher than in urban areas.