New national research commissioned by No Kid Hungry finds that 70 percent of parents living on low incomes worry they will have to choose between paying bills and buying healthy food for their kids, as inflation and grocery prices reach new highs.
The polling underscores the impact of last summer’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that have already caused 3.5 million people to lose access to the program.
More than eight in 10 parents (83 percent) report being unable to buy all the necessary food to feed their families. In the past 12 months, 45 percent put off paying a utility bill, 43 percent held off on necessary automobile repairs, and 30 percent skipped meals so their children could eat. Fifty‑five percent cut back on groceries – the single most common financial sacrifice families report.
Fifty‑four percent of parents said they or a spouse or partner have had to take on extra work or a second job; among them, 26 percent report fewer home‑cooked meals and 26 percent report less supervision for their older children. Thirty‑six percent say their children were at least sometimes not eating enough because they could not afford food.
Federal grocery benefits remain a lifeline for families: 90 percent say they would cut back significantly on food without SNAP, 80 percent say SNAP is the primary way their children are able to eat nutritious food on some days, and 85 percent say SNAP helped their family reach a better financial situation.
“The affordability crisis is reshaping family life across America, forcing parents to work longer hours, take time away from their kids, and make impossible tradeoffs just to keep the fridge full,” said Anne Filipic, CEO of Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign.
“SNAP is the most effective tool we have to ensure families are able to afford groceries even when the economy fails them. Yet, Congressional cuts to the program have caused millions of families to lose benefits, with deeper cuts ahead. Congress has the power right now to step in and pass a Farm Bill that reverses these cuts and gives families the relief they deserve. Without action, it will be a hungry summer ahead for millions of kids in this country.”
The Farm Bill, federal legislation that oversees SNAP, is under consideration in the Senate, with proposals to delay some of the most egregious cuts. Without explicit action, these cuts could be locked in until 2031 or longer.