Procter & Gamble has been a long-time doner to Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization, and its support has made a new study possible – In Short Supply: American Families Struggle to Secure Everyday Essentials.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that 49 million people in the United States, including nearly 16 million children, live at risk of hunger. However, until now, there has been a lack of information about the struggle to obtain other essential household items.

Results of the recent survey reveals that many families with children struggle to afford basic, non-food household goods, including products related to personal care, household care and baby care. As a result, these families often make trade-offs with other living expenses and employ coping strategies in an effort to secure essential household items.

A few results, from the national survey conducted for this study…

• One in three (34 percent) low-income families found it difficult to afford basic household necessities in the past year.
• Of these families, 82 percent live in households with low or very low food security.
• Additionally, nearly three in four (73 percent) low-income families have cut back on food in the past year in order to afford household goods. Of these, one in four (24 percent) report doing so each month.

“During Hunger Action Month in September, we are reminded that 1 in 6 Americans struggles with hunger, but we often don’t think about the additional hardship and emotional toll placed on these families who are unable to afford personal hygiene and basic household items,” said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America.

Aiken continued, “The lack of everyday essentials, such as toilet paper, toothpaste, soap or disposable diapers, may compromise the health and well-being of our at-risk neighbors, especially those who face food insecurity. The difficulty within American households to afford these necessities underscores the need for institutions to work together in an effort to help low-income families address their basic needs.”

Brian Sasson, manager of social investments, Procter & Gamble, added:

“This study demonstrates the importance American families place on personal and household care items in their lives…over the past 30 years we have been proud to contribute funds and donate P&G products to the Feeding America network of food banks to help ease the burden for some of these families in need.”