Food Insecurity Stats

By Toriyan Wallace
Intern

Did you know that 10.2 percent (13.5 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2021? A food insecure household is a house that is uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they have insufficient money or other resources for food. Food-insecure households include those with low food security and very low food security.

Roots for Life is working to eradicate food insecurity in DC. Here’s what you need to know about the District and food insecurity:

• 10.6 percent of households in DC reported that they struggled to buy enough food for themselves and their families during in 2021.

• Households with children in DC have 2x as much difficulty with food insecurty as those without children.

• 12.8 percent of older adults in DC are food insecure, which is the highest rate of seniors facing the threat of hunger in the nation.

• 21 percent of Black households with children and 29.3 percent of Latinx households with children experienced food insecurity as of April 2021.

• 12.9 percent of Black households and 17.1 percent of Latinx households without children reported experiencing food insecurity as of April 2021.

Sources:https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/; https://www.dchunger.org/hunger-in-dc/