Food Access, Food Insecurity, Member Spotlight, Survey
Food Equity and Access in Massachusetts: Voices and Solutions from Lived Experience
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), an H2HC Leadership Council member, released its fourth annual statewide survey on food insecurity, Food Equity and Access in Massachusetts: Voices and Solutions from Lived Experience.
The survey, conducted in partnership with Mass General Brigham, found that 1.9 million adults in Massachusetts, or one in three, are food insecure. The survey highlights lived experience and proposes community-based solutions to help eradicate hunger across in Massachusetts.
Key takeaways include:
- Every county in MA experienced significant food insecurity in 2023.
- The cost of food is the leading cause for food insecurity – 73% of food-insecure individuals said that high inflation and rising food costs are the biggest barriers and need to be addressed.
- Food-insecure adults say that food pantries, SNAP, and WIC are not always enough.
- Households experiencing food insecurity reported they need on average approximately $60 more per week for food – a difference of about $2,000 a year.
- Food insecurity exacerbates many chronic medical and mental health conditions
Read the report to learn more.