As the country continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research from Feeding America reveals a concerning trend – the cost of living is outpacing Americans’ salaries. The increase in prices for necessities like food, rent, and gas is leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.
According to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that focuses on hunger relief, their research shows that millions of Americans are facing food insecurity, with 1 in 7 struggling to put food on the table.
Jen Muzia, Director of the Seattle Ballard Foodbank, says that running the food bank has become much more expensive due to skyrocketing food prices. “It’s not only our guests that come in to shop, we’re also seeing it on us as we go to buy food. It’s costing us way more to buy food,” Muzia said.
The food bank has had to purchase significantly more food in order to meet the increased demand. “For us, we are seeing more than double what we saw pre-pandemic. And then we’ve seen even a greater increase when snap benefits were rolled back in February or March,” Muzia added.
In Houston, the story is much the same. Brian Greene, President of the Houston Food Bank, reports facing similar challenges. “Food inflation is only running about 3% now, but rent inflation is over 7%. And for low-income or working families, rent can account for about 50% or more of their income. So, as those costs are continuing to go up, the money just isn’t going as far, and food tends to be a flexible expense,” Greene explained.
The United States Department of Agriculture supports the findings of Feeding America, reporting that 13.5 million more people became food insecure in 2021 to 2022. The increase is attributed to the end of emergency pandemic support, leaving families to navigate rising costs on their own.
Vince Hall, a spokesperson for Feeding America, says the organization estimates that almost 50 million people have visited food banks in the past year seeking help. “The Federal and States governments have rolled back nearly all support that was provided for people during the pandemic at the very time that inflation was taking an extra large bite out of their income,” Hall stated.
As the effects of the pandemic linger and inflation continues to rise, it is clear that millions of Americans are facing financial hardship. Organizations like Feeding America and food banks across the country are providing much-needed assistance, but they cannot do it alone. It is crucial for government entities to step in and provide support to struggling families to ensure they have access to basic necessities like food.
