More than one third of Bay State adults sometimes don’t necessarily know where they will get their next meal, according to a new study.
The Greater Boston Food Bank reports that nearly two million Massachusetts residents experienced food insecurity at some point in 2023 and that hunger is a growing problem.
“During 2023, food insecurity remained high in Massachusetts, with approximately 1.9 million adults, or 34% of the state’s households, reporting household food insecurity. Due to the persistently high cost of groceries and the end of many COVID-19 policies, overall food insecurity rates persist, with 1 in 3 individuals reporting running out of food or not having enough money to buy food each month,” the report reads, in part.
Not every part of the state is equally affected by the growing problem, according to the study. About one in five residents of the Cape struggle with food insecurity, and slightly fewer face the same in Norfolk County, compared to 48% in Bristol and Hampden counties and 45% in Suffolk and Berkshire counties.
The study also found that food insecurity coincides with other financial difficulties. Of those who are experiencing hunger, the study shows, 69% put off paying for utilities or transportation costs in order to keep the refrigerator filled, 62% held off on rent or mortgage payments, and more than half — 55% — put off medical care.
“Due to the high cost of living across Massachusetts, households experiencing food insecurity continue to make significant financial trade-offs and utilize a variety of coping strategies to alleviate hunger,” study authors wrote.
The study also found that one in three Bay State households contain children facing food insecurity. The problem is especially pronounced among those households where an adult identifies as LGBTQ+, with 53% of those households reporting child-level hunger.
“Child-level food insecurity means that a child was hungry, skipped a meal, or did not eat for a full day because there was not enough money for food. Children from households where the adult completing the survey identified as LGBTQ+ experienced the highest rates of childhood food insecurity overall,” the study read, in part.
The GBFB’s annual food equity and access report is made in collaboration with Mass General Brigham and paid for by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This year’s report surveyed 3,000 Bay State adults.
