Michigan Hunger Study
Goal: To direct and coordinate resources where clients need them most (e.g. to help identify regions in Michigan where additional resources can be targeted to increase enrollment in SNAP or Medicaid).
$1 million legislative appropriation for FY 2022-2023, housed in the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) – to fund first data collection cycle.
To replicate Feeding America’s Hunger in America study for the state of Michigan only (Michigan’s seven Feeding America affiliated food banks and 3,000 partner agencies).
To characterize the state of food insecurity in Michigan through the direct surveying of partner agencies (remote) and then a representative sample of clients (at FBCM-network agencies and food distributions across Michigan).
Results of the study made publicly available via an informational website with various data products, such as reports and visualizations.
Data requests (from state government agencies, etc.) will be fielded by FBCM staff from raw data in the study.
Information About the Study
Project Goals and Objectives
Generate our own data source of current estimates of the number of people (duplicated and unduplicated) served annually.
Understand the people we serve by collecting demographic information (r.e. household composition, race/ethnicity, income, involvement in charitable, government food assistance programs).
Understand the relationship between food insecurity and health, employment, and education.
Identify gaps in service in both the charitable food network (geographic coverage) and government assistance programs (awareness, application barriers, impact) to inform future resource allocation.
Assess client satisfaction with foods and benefits provided through charitable, government food assistance programs.
Assess the impact of each food bank on reducing food insecurity in their service area.
