Food insecurity is currently one of the biggest problems for America’s poor. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, an astonishing 12.8% of U.S households were food insecure in 2022, meaning that they had a difficulty in providing an adequate amount for all family members due to a lack of resources. This equates to over 44 million people in the United States that went hungry, including 13 million children. Food insecurity rates vary significantly across the country, but in all parts certain demographics were affected disproportionately. Americanprogress.org finds that people of color, namely black and hispanic populations, are twice as likely to not be able to afford food than their white counterparts. Low-income households, meaning households with an income below 185% of the federal poverty level are a shocking 185% more likely to experience food insecurity, and single-parent households are twice as likely to experience food insecurity as well. The reasons behind food insecurity are well known: low wages, a lack of affordable housing, limited means of transportation, and discrimination all contribute to this widespread epidemic. As Americans are forced to pay higher prices for housing, groceries, and transportation with little to no increase in pay, they are left with smaller and smaller amounts of money to satisfy their basic needs. America is the richest nation in the world, and its inhabitants should not be forced to go without proper nutrition for any reason. A lack of proper nutrition severely affects a person’s health, children’s academic performance, and even leads to worsening mental health conditions over time.

Massachusetts and Boston offer resources to help alleviate this problem to ensure that its residents are properly fed. The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance(DTA) works directly with the federal government to provide low-income individuals with economic and food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and allows residents who qualify to receive a stipend to purchase food. SNAP benefits, better known as food stamps, take the form of an EBT card that individuals can use to purchase food items from grocery stores. However, not every individual who needs this food assistance receives it. To get more information on the process of applying and obtaining SNAP benefits, I talked to the Multi Services Center at AACA, which provides help for individuals requiring food assistance. They explained that there are certain criteria that need to be met before an individual can be approved for SNAP benefits. A person has to live in the U.S for at least five years and have either a Social Security card, Green card, or U.S passport. They also need to make under a certain amount of money, depending on the size of the household, in order to be eligible for an EBT card. According to DTA, this amount is $5,000 per month for a household of four, with a maximum monthly SNAP allowance of $971. The Multi Services Center estimates that 98% of people who come to the AACA are qualified for food stamps and eventually receive them, but for the two percent that do not, it almost always comes down to not having the necessary residency documents or simply making too much money to qualify. In special cases, such as when an individual has a disability, the AACA will make an inquiry with DTA to find out if their disability will allow them to receive SNAP benefits, even if they do not meet the requisite qualifications

In the event that an application is denied, there are still options for these individuals. AACA refers them to a food pantry that is closest to the applicant. For example, ABCD ( Action for Boston Community Development) operates five food pantries for Boston residents in Allston/Brighton, East Boston, Mattapan, Parker Hill/Fenway, and Roxbury/Dorchester. At these food pantries, ABCD provides individuals with access to healthy food at no cost. They can obtain fresh produce and nonperishable foods such as cereal, rice, and canned tomatoes, along with a myriad of other healthy options. These sites provide an invaluable service for people who have nowhere else to turn to. Without food pantries, food insecurity in Massachusetts would be a significantly bigger issue and residents suffering from it would face even larger struggles trying to survive.

Interviews with longtime Boston Food Pantry volunteer Kien Lang and Director David Andre gave Sampan more insight on how these organizations work and the kind of impact that they have in the Boston Community. Lang, who has been working at the Boston Food Pantry for over a decade, estimates that around 1400 families each day receive food from the pantry. He also stated that during the pandemic the food pantry saw a tremendous rise in demand, going from distributing food once a month to twice a week in that time frame. According to Andre, almost all of the food comes from the Boston Food Bank. They receive around half of their supplies in the form of subsidized food from a federal food assistance program known as the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program(TEAFAP). The Boston Food Bank also receives around a quarter of their food from the state equivalent of TEAFAP, known as the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program(MEAFAP). The rest comes from donated products to the Boston Food Bank. Andre states that currently the need for food assistance in America is at an all time high likely due to rising food and housing costs. In order to meet this increased need, the Boston Food Pantry is now open twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and individuals are allowed to come as often as they need to. While the amount of food people receive is lower per visit, going from 40 pounds per person to 25, because they are able to frequent the Boston Food Pantry much more often, they obtain more food overall. The idea is to provide enough food on Wednesday to last an individual till Saturday when they can visit the food pantry again. 75 percent of this food is fresh produce, meaning that people do not have to compromise their health when they receive food from the Boston Food Pantry. While Andre acknowledges that this new system is not a cure for hunger, it plays a huge role in mitigating its effects. Without the Boston Food Pantry and food assistance programs like it, hunger would be a much more prevalent issue in this city.

While food insecurity remains a serious issue in America, Massachusetts and Boston offer a glimpse of hope through the tireless efforts of organizations like the DTA, ABCD, Boston Food Pantry and AACA. By providing food assistance programs like SNAP and access to free healthy food at food pantries, these organizations are playing a critical role in mitigating the impact of food insecurity and ensuring that no resident goes hungry. As we continue to address the root causes of food insecurity, such as low wages and affordable housing, the work of these organizations remains crucial in providing immediate relief and ensuring the well-being of Massachusetts residents. Through collective action and continued support for these vital programs, we can build a future where food insecurity is no longer a reality for any American.

Find Your Food Pantry: https://www.boston.gov/departments/food-justice/find-your-food-pantry