Who is Hungry in New Mexico?

In 2005 238,000 people received emergency food from food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens served by New Mexico’s Food Banks. 

• 34% (81,000) are children
• 12% (28,000) are under 5 years old 
• 9% (21,000) are elders
• 36% have jobs
• 67% have access to a working automobile 
• 63% have incomes at or below 75% of the official poverty level
• 20% are receiving social security
• 28% of households have at least one person in poor health
• 3.2% are on welfare

Many have hard decisions to make every day.

• 41% have to choose between paying for food or paying for utilities
• 30% have to choose between paying for food or paying the rent or mortgage
• 28% have to choose between paying for food or paying for healthcare

The average income of households who use food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens is $870 per month. Although many more are elegible, 26.4% of those we assist participate in the Food Stamp Program.

To download the complete report Faces of Hunger in New Mexico 2005 click here.