The Michigan Hunger Study 2024 is now publicly available
Michigan Hunger Study 2024 Released, First Statewide Survey of Food Bank Clients in a Decade
Lansing, MI — The Michigan Hunger Study 2024 (MHS2024), the first comprehensive statewide survey of households served by the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) member network since 2014, has been publicly released at https://mihungerstudy.org/.
Led by researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) in collaboration with the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the study provides updated statewide estimates of the number of individuals served through the charitable food network, along with detailed information on household demographics, employment, income, health status, food security, and participation in government assistance programs.
Between June and September 2024, MSU researchers surveyed 2,478 clients at 53 partner agencies across Michigan using a multistage, probability-based sampling design to ensure
geographic and demographic representation across the state’s 10 prosperity regions. Statistical weighting procedures were applied to generate statewide estimates.
Among the findings:
An estimated 1,393,737 unduplicated individuals were served through the FBCM member network in 2024, representing approximately 13.8% of Michigan’s population.
An estimated 4,773,292 duplicated client visits occurred statewide.
78% of client households were classified as food insecure.
64% of client households reported annual incomes of $25,000 or less.
49% of client households reported at least one employed person during the past year.
32% of households reported a member in poor health, and 42% reported unpaid medical bills.
45% of clients currently receive SNAP benefits, while 51% reported being likely eligible but not enrolled.
The study also documents housing stability, education levels, military service history, health conditions, and trade-offs households make between food and other necessities such as transportation, utilities, medical care, and housing.
“This study was undertaken to provide a current, Michigan-specific data source that captures a comprehensive picture of the households served through the charitable food network.” said Dr. Dawn Opel, President of the Food Bank Council of Michigan. “Our role was to support the research process and ensure the findings are accessible. The data stand on their own and are intended to inform researchers, policymakers, health leaders, and community partners.”
The Michigan Hunger Study 2024 was designed to replicate elements of Feeding America’s 2014 Hunger in America study while tailoring the methodology to Michigan’s context. In addition to estimating unduplicated and duplicated client counts, the study collected survey data directly from clients, complementing other proxy-based measures of food insecurity such as county-level modeling.
The full report, executive summary, methodology overview, and downloadable data tables are available at: https://mihungerstudy.org/
The MHS2024 was supported by a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Available for Interviews:
Dr. Jean M. Kerver, Principal Investigator, Michigan State University
Dr. Dawn Opel, President, Food Bank Council of Michigan
About the Food Bank Council of Michigan
Founded in 1984, the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) was created to implement a unified strategy to address and alleviate hunger statewide. FBCM works with its regional food banks and more than 2,800 hunger relief agencies, farmers, and cross-sector partners to ensure no Michigander goes without food. For more information, visit www.fbcmich.org.
Media Contact:
Denise Donahue
Director of Communications Food Bank Council of Michigan
ddonahue@fbcmich.org