Fellows mentioned in this story: Amy Miller

From Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

Hawai‘i’s second annual survey of “food insecurity” showed that almost half of island families (or 48%) are either food insecure or on the brink of choosing between food, housing or healthcare — even among households that earn $90,000 or more.

The level of food insecurity jumped this year even before the federal government shutdown temporarily cut off SNAP benefits that increased demand on Hawai‘i’s food banks, and before upcoming federal SNAP and healthcare requirements will force even more people to make hard financial decisions.

Many of Hawai‘i’s food distribution lines that sprung up after the shutdown were filled with federal government employees who were forced to work without pay, suggesting that even island families with good paying jobs continue to live paycheck-to-paycheck in one of the priciest states in America.

In Hawai‘i, an income level of $90,000 marks a clear difference between the need for healthy and plentiful food — with 44% of families earning below $90,000 being food insecure compared to only 16% of households that bring in $90,000 or more.

But whether they make below or more than $90,000 a year, Hawai‘i Foodbank President and CEO Amy Miller said, “a lot of people are right on the edge. … Our salaries are just not enough for people to get housing and food to live.”

Continue reading at staradvertiser.com.