<P> The Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation (MOWAAF), recognizing that hunger is a serious threat facing millions of seniors in the United States, determined that understanding of the problem is a critical first step to developing remedies . In 2007, MOWAAF, underwritten by the Harrah's Foundation, commissioned a research study entitled The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America . The report was released at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in March 2008 in Washington, D.C. </P> <P> The study found that in the United States, over 5 million seniors, (11.4% of all seniors), experience some form of food insecurity, i.e. were marginally food insecure . Of these, about 2.5 million are at - risk of hunger, and about 750,000 suffer from hunger due to financial constraints . Some groups of seniors are more likely to be at - risk of hunger . Relative to their representation in the overall senior population, those with limited incomes, under age 70, African - Americans, Hispanics, never - married individuals, renters, and persons living in the southern United States are all more likely to be at - risk of hunger . While certain groups of seniors are at greater - risk of hunger, hunger cuts across the income spectrum . For example, over 50% of all seniors who are at - risk of hunger have incomes above the poverty threshold . Likewise, it is present in all demographic groups . For example, over two - thirds of seniors at - risk of hunger are caucasian . There are marked differences in the risk of hunger across family structure, especially for those seniors living alone, or those living with a grandchild . Those living alone are twice as likely to experience hunger compared to married seniors . One in five senior households with a grandchild, but no adult child, present is at risk of hunger, compared to about one in twenty households without a grandchild present . Seniors living in non-metropolitan areas are as likely to experience food insecurity as those living in metropolitan areas, suggesting that food insecurity cuts across the urban - rural continuum . </P> <P> In March 2017, President Donald Trump's proposed budget would make cuts to block grants that go towards spending on Meals on Wheels . Defending these cuts, director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney said that "Meals on Wheels sounds great" but that the program is one of many that is "just not showing any results ." </P> <P> A 2013 review study on the impact of home - delivered meal programs found that "all but two studies found home - delivered meal programs to significantly improve diet quality, increase nutrient intakes, and reduce food insecurity and nutritional risk among participants . Other beneficial outcomes include increased socialization opportunities, improvement in dietary adherence, and higher quality of life ." The study concluded, "Home - delivered meal programs improve diet quality and increase nutrient intakes among participants . These programs are also aligned with the federal cost - containment policy to rebalance long - term care away from nursing homes to home - and community - based services by helping older adults maintain independence and remain in their homes and communities as their health and functioning decline ." </P>

Where does meals on wheels funding come from