Hunger in Working America

From Paycheck to Pantry: Hunger and the Working Poor.

In 2014, Feeding America, in partnership with Oxfam America, published From Paycheck to Pantry: Hunger in Working America. The study uses data from the 2014 Hunger in America study to outline the common challenges households face in meeting basic needs, including limited hours on the job, changes in employment status, and competing household expenses.

  • Nearly nine out of ten (89%) working households reported an annual household income of $30,000 or less.
  • More than half (57%) of working client households reported part-time employment (30 hours or less per week).
  • One in four (24%) working client households has an adult member currently enrolled in school. Though education may allow for more employment prospects or higher wages in the future, it can contribute to a temporary strain on household resources.