An increasing number of parents are worried about feeding their children as Covid lockdowns continue to batter the economy.
Fewer than half of households with kids in the U.S. are “very confident” they can afford food over the next four weeks while 5.6 million households with children reported struggling to afford food in the last seven days, according to new Census survey data.
Joseph Llobrera, director of research at The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, said unless policymakers immediately provide strong economic relief, “widespread food hardship that continues into the holiday season appears likely.”
He added, “While the risk is greatest for children who chronically lack sufficient food, the shock of becoming food insecure may itself affect children’s behavior, and living in a household that’s even temporarily food insecure is linked with negative development among toddlers.”
The data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau Aug. 19 through Oct. 26, show that in the United States, 12% of households with children reported that their household sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat in the last seven days.
The data also showed that amid the pandemic, households aren’t just worried about food.
Llobrera pointed out — “More than 4 in 10 children live in households that are struggling to cover such basic costs as food, rent or mortgage, car payments, medical expenses, or student loans.”