Here’s a look at the state of hunger in the United States, the causes behind food security issues, and the assorted methods used to fight the hunger crisis.
While hunger is often portrayed in the media as a distant problem in third-world countries, the pangs of food insecurity are very much felt here in North America. Hunger affects more than 18 million households in the United States, with at least one in four adults (27%) reporting food insecurity.
Facts About Hunger in the US
Food Insecurity
The SDA defines food-insecure households like this: “At times during the year, these households were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food.” Food insecurity in the US is evaluated on two levels—low food security and very low food security.
In households with low food security, people were able to “avoid substantially disrupting their eating patterns or reducing food intake,” while in households with very low food security, these consequences were not avoidable. Members of the household experienced disruptions in eating patterns and reduced food intake. These people went hungry because of a lack of money or resources.
Hunger Statistics in the US
The issue of hunger in the United States has been an area of need for a long time, but the pandemic exacerbated the hunger crisis. In the USDA’s most recent report on hunger, they share:
- 18 million of U.S. households were food-insecure at some time in 2023.
- 5.1% of U.S. households had very low food security at some time during the year.
- Household food insecurity affected 6.5 million of households with children.
Feeding America notes that “every community in the country is home to families who face hunger,” but that certain groups are more likely to be affected. This includes rural communities; African American, Latino, and Native American communities; and those living at or near poverty levels. In fact, Prosperity Now reports that “40% of Americans are living just one paycheck away from poverty, making impossible decisions between paying their bills, feeding their families, or filling their prescriptions.”
Hunger Statistics in California
Due to the high cost of living in California, food insecurity and hunger is sadly very prevalent. According to the California Association of Food Banks, “California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, yet more than 1 in 5 Californians — about 8.8 million — currently struggle with food insecurity.” According to the most recent data on the California Food Insecurity Dashboard:
- Around 3 million households in California face food insecurity.
- Close to one third of all households with children face food insecurity.
- Approximately one-third of all Hispanic/Latine households and all black households face food insecurity.
Hunger Statistics in San Luis Obispo County
While San Luis Obispo County is celebrated for its beauty, abundance of agriculture, and quality of life, many residents face daily challenges in accessing nutritious food. In San Luis Obispo County….
- Over 39,000 neighbors receive nutritious food from the SLO Food Bank every month (The SLO Food Bank Annual Report).
- Over 7,220 children are food insecure (Feeding America Map the Meal Gap).
- 42% of people facing food insecurity are ineligible for federal nutrition programs (Feeding America Map the Meal Gap).
Causes of Food Insecurity
The causes of food insecurity are complex and interconnected but generally boil down to issues of access and distribution. Some of the factors that engender a lack of access and poor distribution, thus sustaining food insecurity, are these:
- Poverty, unemployment, or low income
- Lack of affordable housing
- Chronic health conditions or lack of access to healthcare
- Systemic racism and racial discrimination
As Amy Glasmeier, an economic geographer at Penn State University, told NPR, “A big part of food insecurity relates to the uncertainties of daily life. People go hungry because of unexpected events, such as paying for an emergency visit to the hospital, a car repair, or the loss of a job. So you can be just above the poverty line, and any one of those circumstances can push you into poverty.” A low income also makes it difficult for families and individuals to afford healthy food, leading to demand for low-cost (and low-nutrition) items that reinforce distribution issues.
Additionally, systemic injustice perpetuates food insecurity in the US. Healthy People reports that in 2020, “Black non-Hispanic households were nearly two times more likely to be food insecure than the national average.” Marginalized communities often face geographic issues like food deserts, where affordable and nutritious food is simply not available. Wage gaps, healthcare access, and other causes compound these issues and make hunger a persistent problem.
Hunger Solutions
Food insecurity is a difficult issue to address because of its various causes and the differences in how people experience and are affected by it. However, there are programs, organizations, and individuals doing what they can to alleviate hunger in the US.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a large-scale federal food assistance program dedicated to improving food access. SNAP provides monthly benefits that support the food budgets of participants and operates through state-run programs like CalFresh. SNAP helps 40 million Americans put food on the table each month.
While food assistance programs are an essential means of support, they unfortunately cannot reach everyone in need. Feeding America reports that 44% of people who are food insecure may not qualify for federal food assistance.
Here, food banks and other nonprofit organizations across the US step in to fill the gap. Food banks like the SLO Food Bank in San Luis Obispo help millions of Americans by providing food and connecting families and individuals with essential resources.
About the SLO Food Bank
We at the SLO Food Bank believe that everyone has the right to nutritious food. We work with a network of community partners in San Luis Obispo to alleviate hunger and to build a stronger community. We offer robust programs dedicated to feeding neighbors in need, including children, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness.
If you’re in the area, check out our Food Locator to find food sources near you, or support our cause through volunteer opportunities or by making a donation today.