Hunger in Central Indiana

Central Indiana’s 11 counties are home to 30% of the state’s 6,537,334 Hoosiers. Of this population, 290,550 (15%) are food insecure.1 The Great Recession and the subsequent sluggish recovery have led to a 30% surge in American households confronting food insecurity, an increase of twelve million people facing hunger from 2007 to 20102. Despite these staggering numbers, most Americans are unaware of the severity of this growing problem. While it may seem that Indiana’s disadvantaged are well taken care of by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly food stamps) and other federal programs, the reality is that this funding, in conjunction with assistance from charitable agencies still does not meet many households’ food needs. Many families face the dilemma of choosing between food and other necessities.