The cost of living, however, is the 17th highest. Utah also has the highest dependency ratio in the nation with 3.67 dependent mouths to feed per household. Housing costs during the same period increased faster in Utah than in any other state. The state Department of Economic Analysis reports that Utahns with jobs near the minimum wage do not earn enough to support a family and pay for inflated housing costs. Approximately 200,000 Utahns live below the poverty line and must decide each month to pay their monthly bills or provide food for their families.
Children are especially vulnerable to hunger.
A hungry child is twice as likely to be absent from school and four times as likely to have a hard time concentrating. Approximately 78,000 Utah children live in homes which have difficulty obtaining enough food, have reduced quality of diets and have anxiety about their food supply. Families experiencing hunger in Utah are unique compared to other states.