Despite federal stopgap policies and a substantial charitable food response to mitigate the effects of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, hunger remains a reality for many across the U.S. struggling to make ends meet. Although charitable resources such as food banks were highly visible in the early months of the pandemic, they continue to be a crucial resource for families two years later. This brief analyzes data from the December 2021 round of the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, a nationally representative survey of more than 8,000 adults, in comparison to results from the December 2019 and December 2020 rounds to examine the trend in free-grocery or free-meal use. It also examines the characteristics and circumstances of people who sought charitable food during 2021.

While a wide range of factors contributes to an individual’s economic mobility or movement up and down the economic ladder, the ties between food insecurity and economic inequality are demonstrated. Individuals who experience a lack of food security face mental and physical health consequences that can directly impact their employment status, use of the health care system, and other factors that impact upward mobility. Jurisdictions are working to improve the food security of residents by integrating local efforts and working with key community partners to enhance food production, transportation, and distribution. The National Association of Counties and National League of Cities held a webinar in June 2022 that featured an expert overview of the state of food insecurity in the United States as well as example solutions from Franklin County, Ohio and Dane County, Wisconsin.

Since 2011, Feeding America has conducted an annual Map the Meal Gap study to improve understanding of food insecurity and food costs at the local level. This 2022 report presents 2020 estimates of food insecurity for the overall population and children at multiple geographic levels, including counties, food bank service areas, congressional districts and states. The study also examines differences in local food insecurity rates by race and ethnicity.

This blogpost illustrates food insecurity data and the impact of relief measures on food insecurity. The most recent annual U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows that some 13.5 million households with 33.8 million people were food insecure at some point during 2021. The data tell two stories: on one hand, food insecurity remains too high, being higher both for households with children than without, and for those with members of color than for white households. But overall food insecurity in 2021 was statistically unchanged from 2019 and 2020, even amid a pandemic; it improved for households headed by a Black adult, and it reached a two-decade low for households with children. The rate held steady during the COVID-19 pandemic and is not significantly different from the 10.5 percent rate for 2019 and 2020 due to robust relief measures policymakers enacted. These include Economic Impact Payments, an expanded Child Tax Credit, improved unemployment insurance, and expanded food assistance, along with SNAP’s built-in ability to respond to increased need.

CalFresh, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP), is one of California’s largest safety net programs. The program provides food assistance to 4.8 million Californians, and according to the most recent estimates, lifts about half a million Californians out of poverty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and state policies have increased benefit levels and expanded eligibility for CalFresh. This report goes beyond annual poverty snapshots to investigate the double jeopardy of low and unstable income and addresses two key questions: To what extent do safety net resources stabilize incomes of CalFresh participants? and How did CalFresh and other safety net resources affect family budgets at the start of the pandemic?

This Food for Life Global blogpost explores the meaning of food security versus food insecurity. Food security is the confidence of knowing where and when your next meal will be and that if hungry, one will soon be able to feed oneself. The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” On the other hand, food insecurity is the inability to know where and when one’s next meal will be. The post also covers four levels of food security, causes and effects of food insecurity, elements of food security, and the distinction between hunger and food insecurity.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, everything changed. Many meal providers found themselves rapidly adapting their operations to reach kids in their communities. This report presents innovations in child nutrition programs illustrated by case studies informed by interviews. The report includes innovative ideas pertaining to meals served, outreach, delivery, partnerships, and areas beyond food.

The authors of this blog provide data and commentary that highlight three key economic concerns for the summer of 2022: women leaving the labor force, economic contraction erasing job gains by Black workers, and the heightened risk of food insecurity. To mitigate these potential pitfalls, the authors suggest robust fiscal policies such as stronger unemployment insurance and a renewed monthly Child Tax Credit as well as a collaborative effort from the federal government, states, philanthropy, and local community-based organizations to support families vulnerable to food insecurity and homelessness in the coming months.

The University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Research on Poverty will host a webinar on October 21, 2021 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT to discuss SNAP eligibility and the relationship of distance to takeup of SNAP benefits. The webinar offers a perspective from SNAP offices and stores that accept SNAP. Research will be presented by Marianne Bitler, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Davis.

This report identifies the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity, housing, and employment hardships. Data tables illustrate the difficulties in accessing enough food, increased inability to make timely rent or mortgage payments, challenges in meeting household expenses, and the concentration of job losses in low-wage industries. Comparative state data on these hardships is also presented.