Food Insecurity

Hunger in America

Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive. And, while people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families, approximately 49 million people—that's one in six people in the U.S.—still relied on food assistance from charities like Feeding America in 2022

One in five Massachusetts households with children struggle with hunger. Here's how it affects young people.

Many families around the Commonwealth are heading into the New Year facing food insecurity. As of September, an estimated 21.9% of Massachusetts households with children do not have access to sufficient or quality food, according to a U.S. Census survey. It’s an issue that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston is working on. 

Understanding the issue: Hunger in Massachusetts

In support of our mission to end hunger in Massachusetts, we use internal and external data to inform our direct service programs and to make evidence-based policy recommendations.

We believe scientific evidence is critical in promoting equity and so we prioritize providing inclusive and accurate statistics. Our research and analyses is based on our efforts to ensure that we are using the highest quality data available. 

Food Security and Nutrition Assistance

ERS monitors the food security of U.S. households through an annual, nationally representative survey. While most U.S. households are food secure, a minority of U.S. households experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning that their access to adequate food for active, healthy living is limited by lack of money and other resources.