The Capital Area Food Bank has released its Hunger Report 2024, revealing a significant increase in food insecurity across the Greater Washington region. The report finds that 37% of the region's residents experienced food insecurity in the past year.
Key findings from the Hunger Report 2024 include:
1. County-level food insecurity rates range from 23% in Arlington, VA to 50% in Prince George's County.
2. At the median household income level (about $121,000), 1 in 3 households are now food insecure, up from 1 in 5 last year.
3. The report highlights difficult choices many face between food and other essentials like housing, healthcare, and credit payments.
4. Food insecurity continues to disproportionately impact communities of color and households with children.
5. Video interviews with community members sharing their experiences with food insecurity are included.
6. The report offers recommendations for addressing food insecurity and economic inequity across sectors.
This is the fifth such study by the Capital Area Food Bank, conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. The report provides valuable insights for GW researchers and policymakers interested in local food insecurity and its broader economic implications.
