A newly released national study is putting renewed attention on food insecurity in Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, where poverty, access to grocery stores and the number of households relying on food assistance all point to continuing challenges for local families.
A new statewide poll conducted by Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health found that one in three Georgia families with children experience food insecurity, meaning they do not always have reliable access to enough nutritious food.
The survey found that 33% of Georgia families with children reported low or very low food security, while 18% said they had skipped meals, gone hungry or eaten less because they could not afford enough food. Researchers also found that many parents are sacrificing their own meals to ensure their children have enough to eat.
Food insecurity was found to be especially severe in rural parts of the state. According to the poll, 43% of rural Georgia families with children reported food insecurity, compared with 31% of families in urban and suburban areas.
Researchers warned the problem could worsen as changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect, potentially making it more difficult for some families to qualify for benefits and increasing administrative costs for the state.
The poll surveyed 1,002 Georgia parents and highlights growing concerns about rising grocery prices, access to food assistance and the impact food insecurity can have on children’s physical health, mental well-being and academic performance.
Georgia continues to rank among the states with the highest payment error rates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to newly released federal data, prompting state officials to implement changes aimed at improving accuracy and avoiding future financial penalties.
