Hungry families: Seattle communities ranked by food insecurity

About 12 percent of King County residents report having run out of food and money in the past year. Check out how the Seattle area’s cities and larger neighborhoods compare when it comes to food insecurity. Above, Paul Kauppila serves guests breakfast in the cafeteria at Union Gospel Mission, Wednesday, June 29, 2016. Kauppila is currently in UGM's recovery program. less About 12 percent of King County residents report having run out of food and money in the past year. Check out how the Seattle area’s cities and larger neighborhoods compare when it comes to food insecurity. ... more Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Hungry families: Seattle communities ranked by food insecurity 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

It might seem like a set up for a punchline, the starving American. Unsated hunger is not what this country is known for these days.

And yet about 1-in-8 Washington residents has gone hungry in the past year for lack of food and money.

The situation is better in the Seattle area, but only slightly. About 12 percent of King County residents report experiencing “food insecurity” – having run out of food and not been able to buy more. That’s just a percentage point below the state average.

Check out the gallery above for a look at how King County communities compare, according to statistics compiled by Public Health – Seattle & King County.

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About half of King County households with incomes under $15,000 experienced food insecurity, while a sizable number of residents with incomes as high as $50,000 reported it as well. Residents who described themselves as Hispanic experienced food insecurity at nearly three times the county-wide average.

The numbers included here come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A note on them: Because of the survey size, the rates given for smaller communities may not be particularly accurate.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.