In Maine, nearly one in ten persons is "food insecure" according to the USDA.
Poverty and Need indicators
The Poverty Rate in Maine hangs stubbornly between 10-12% when the economy remains relatively stable. A third of the population has income at or below the 200% poverty level, generally regarded as the income level necessary to meet the basic needs of a family of three. Though Maine's poverty rate hovers near the national average, and is often slightly below the national average, the portion that is "near poor" in Maine is consistently above the national average.Maine's relatively good ranking on other factors such as hunger likewise indicate that Maine is less impacted by high levels of extreme poverty and more troubled by a high rate of chronically low income households whose income hovers not far above the poverty line.
Food Stamp Program enrollment reached new heights in the fall of 2004 through the early months of 2005. Enrollment is usually higher in the colder months as households struggle to pay heating bills. The escalation of heating oil prices (up more than a third over the 2003-04 season) undoubtedly contributed to the growth in enrollment.
