One-in-three Massachusetts residents report running out of food or not having enough money to get more food every month, according to the findings of the latest annual report by the Greater Boston Food Bank. The report, which was based on a survey of 3,000 adults across the state conducted from November through January, finds that approximately 1.8 million adults in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity during 2022. Additionally, the report found that food insecurity rates among households with children ranged from 32% in Eastern Massachusetts to 41% in Central Massachusetts to 43% in Western Massachusetts. “New analysis this year demonstrates that one in three households in Massachusetts experienced childlevel food insecurity,” the report states. “This means that a child was hungry, skipped a meal, or did not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food. Children from households where the adult completing the survey identified as Black, Hispanic, or LGBTQ+ had much higher rates of food insecurity compared with rates overall.”Authors of the report note that their survey was conducted while the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was still in place, along with extra benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The state of emergency subsequently ended, and federal SNAP benefits returned to their previous levels, although the state temporarily softened the blow with some additional money.”While unsurprising, the third installment of this annual study paints a bleak, persistent picture of food insecurity across Massachusetts,” said Catherine D’Amato, the president & CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “Even with the Healey administration’s essential SNAP offramps, tireless work from our distribution partners to feed their communities, and national attention to the issue from last year’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, there is still so much more to be done to meet the need. It must be a statewide priority to create and adequately support a just food system that ensures the basic human right to food.”Households that experienced food insecurity were asked what other bills were competing for their resources. Seventy percent of respondents included utility bills, 68% cited transportation, 64% cited housing costs, and 61% cited medical care. To obtain enough food, 85% of households said they were buying the cheapest food available, and 61% said they sought help from family or friends.More than half of those experiencing food insecurity, 51%, sought help from a food pantry in 2022. That’s up from 46% in 2021. “In this report, The Greater Boston Food Bank and its partners are shining a light on the large numbers of Massachusetts residents who continue to suffer from inconsistent and inequitable access to food,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Food insecurity disproportionately harms our most valuable neighbors – children, seniors, communities of color and low-income families. Our administration is committed to being strong partners in the work to end hunger, and its roots causes.”Authors of the GBFB report also cited data indicating an intersection between food insecurity and other health challenges.”Among populations receiving SNAP benefits and utilizing food pantries, anxiety and depression rates were found to be nearly double the rate of the rest of the state,” the report states.Video below: Previous study finds food insecurity on the rise
One-in-three Massachusetts residents report running out of food or not having enough money to get more food every month, according to the findings of the latest annual report by the Greater Boston Food Bank.
The report, which was based on a survey of 3,000 adults across the state conducted from November through January, finds that approximately 1.8 million adults in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity during 2022. Additionally, the report found that food insecurity rates among households with children ranged from 32% in Eastern Massachusetts to 41% in Central Massachusetts to 43% in Western Massachusetts.
“New analysis this year demonstrates that one in three households in Massachusetts experienced childlevel food insecurity,” the report states. “This means that a child was hungry, skipped a meal, or did not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food. Children from households where the adult completing the survey identified as Black, Hispanic, or LGBTQ+ had much higher rates of food insecurity compared with rates overall.”
Authors of the report note that their survey was conducted while the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was still in place, along with extra benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The state of emergency subsequently ended, and federal SNAP benefits returned to their previous levels, although the state temporarily softened the blow with some additional money.
“While unsurprising, the third installment of this annual study paints a bleak, persistent picture of food insecurity across Massachusetts,” said Catherine D’Amato, the president & CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “Even with the Healey administration’s essential SNAP offramps, tireless work from our distribution partners to feed their communities, and national attention to the issue from last year’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, there is still so much more to be done to meet the need. It must be a statewide priority to create and adequately support a just food system that ensures the basic human right to food.”
Households that experienced food insecurity were asked what other bills were competing for their resources. Seventy percent of respondents included utility bills, 68% cited transportation, 64% cited housing costs, and 61% cited medical care.
To obtain enough food, 85% of households said they were buying the cheapest food available, and 61% said they sought help from family or friends.
More than half of those experiencing food insecurity, 51%, sought help from a food pantry in 2022. That’s up from 46% in 2021.
“In this report, The Greater Boston Food Bank and its partners are shining a light on the large numbers of Massachusetts residents who continue to suffer from inconsistent and inequitable access to food,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Food insecurity disproportionately harms our most valuable neighbors – children, seniors, communities of color and low-income families. Our administration is committed to being strong partners in the work to end hunger, and its roots causes.”
Authors of the GBFB report also cited data indicating an intersection between food insecurity and other health challenges.
“Among populations receiving SNAP benefits and utilizing food pantries, anxiety and depression rates were found to be nearly double the rate of the rest of the state,” the report states.
Video below: Previous study finds food insecurity on the rise