USDA reports the highest levels of food insecurity in the U.S. in nearly a decade
HILLSIDE, NJ — September 10, 2024
According to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of people living in food insecure households in the U.S. increased to 47 million in 2023, including nearly 14 million children. This is up from nearly 44 million people, including 13 million children, the previous year. It represents the highest rate and number of individuals and children facing food insecurity since 2014.
“We must not accept that 1 in 7 people, including a staggering 1 in 5 children, are food insecure across the country,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state’s largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization. “Food insecurity affects every state, county, and town as our neighbors grapple with the high prices of essentials, like housing and groceries.”
The spike reinforces what CFBNJ has experienced and heard from its network of partner pantries, soup kitchens, and other local food assistance organizations. CFBNJ’s on-site Community Assistance Pantry in Egg Harbor Township went from serving about 350 families per month in summer 2021 to over 2,500 families per month in 2023 – a more than 600% increase. CFBNJ’s average monthly food distribution that year was nearly 9 million pounds, almost 3 million pounds more than at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USDA’s report also found that 37% of people experiencing food insecurity in 2023 may have been ineligible for federal assistance programs. This equates to more than 14.5 million people who had difficulty making ends meet but whose income level was too high to qualify for most federal food assistance benefits. Food insecurity disproportionately impacts people of color nationwide, with Black and Latino individuals 2.2 times more likely to struggle with hunger than white individuals.
The report comes during Hunger Action Month, when the Feeding America network of food banks calls on the public to take action to end hunger.
“Together with all sectors of society, from our neighbors in need to government and nonprofit partners to individual, community, and corporate supporters, we can greatly reduce food insecurity in New Jersey and across the country,” said McCarthy. “To build a food secure future for everyone, federal lawmakers must invest in common-sense policies that support nutrition programs and families, and we must focus on long-term solutions that help our neighbors make ends meet while breaking cycles that perpetuate hunger.”
CFBNJ’s transformative strategic plan, which was adopted in 2023, focuses on dignity, efficiency, equity, access to fresh, healthy food, policy and advocacy, and tailored approaches that address unique needs in specific communities – all towards an ultimate goal of a hunger-free New Jersey.
“In New Jersey, we’re very fortunate that our state legislators have led the way in the fight against hunger,” said McCarthy. “Creating lasting change won’t be easy, and results won’t happen overnight, but we know that New Jersey is committed to meeting challenges and addressing hunger head on. This commitment must extend across the entire nation.”
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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) is the largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization in the state, where nearly one million neighbors, including 1 in 8 children, struggle with the emptiness caused by hunger. We are the lead source of nourishing food for 800 pantries serving everyone from infants to college students to families and seniors. Our comprehensive approach addresses the root causes of hunger through food benefits and social services, job training and certification, local farm partnerships, and food policies that nurture all New Jerseyans. By providing food, help, and hope, we are building a food secure future for New Jersey. CFBNJ is a proud member of Feeding America®.