Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s hunger problem appears to be getting worse, after years of improvement, according to new numbers released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rob Manning reports.

The state’s hunger rate rose to 5.5 percent in 2007 - a sharp increase from a low of less than four percent in 2003.

That means more than one in 20 Oregon households skips meals or shrinks portions, to get by. The high hunger rate returns Oregon to its place among the worst states in the U.S.

Mark Edwards teaches sociology  at Oregon State University. He says Oregon has successfully signed up families for food assistance, during tough economic times.

This time, he says the bad economy is hard to overcome.

Mark Edwards: “Those who are already receiving food boxes and food stamps are finding it even more difficult. But also, we suspect that there are new households that are having to deal with this problem, that haven’t had to in the past.”

Edwards says the bad economic news in 2008 is likely to produce an even worse hunger report a year from now.