Profile of Hunger in New Mexico

The poverty guidelines updated annually in the Federal Register by the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services sets the poverty guideline for a family of four at $20,000 annual gross income.                     For a Map of the state's population in poverty click HERE

Percentage of population living below the federal poverty guideline (2006) 18.5%

Number of individuals living below the federal poverty level (2006)  353,694

Number of people 65 and older living below the federal poverty level (2006) 13% 30,410

Number of Children aged 18 and under living in poverty (2006) 26.5% 127,823 

Number of children under the age of 5 living below the federal poverty guideline (2006) 41,118        For a Map of child poverty in New Mexico click HERE

Number of students receiving free or reduced price lunches
(2005-2006 school year) 52.4%  171,930

Number of persons receiving Food Stamps (FY 2006) 12.5 %  244,672
For a map of state food stamp program participation click HERE

Average Food Stamp monthly benefit per person (FY 2006) $86.29

Number of persons receiving Cash Assistance TANF (2006) 43,039

Average Cash Assistance Monthly Benefit per 3 person family (2003) $389.00

Number of emergency food agencies in New Mexico (2007) 700 agencies**

Number of pounds of food distributed by food banks in New Mexico (2006-2007) 31,000,000 lbs. **

**based on available data

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, USDA, Food Research and Action Center State of the States 2007, New Mexico Public Education Department, Food Bank Monthly Statistical Reports, Faces of Hunger in New Mexico 2005,   Compiled by the New Mexico Association of Food Banks