Cuyahoga County child food insecurity is among the worst in Ohio
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Over 40% of children in some U.S. counties live in food-insecure households, per new estimates shared first with Axios from Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.
Why it matters: Potential cuts or changes to federal food aid programs like SNAP and tariffs on imported foods could affect millions of Americans and exacerbate the childhood hunger crisis.
By the numbers: An estimated 14 million U.S. children overall live in food-insecure homes. That's about one out of every five kids.
- The rate tends to be higher in relatively poor, rural counties — but there are urban areas with high rates as well, like New York's Bronx County (33.1%).
Zoom in: Cuyahoga County's child insecurity rate (26%) is among the highest in Ohio, per Feeding America's new Map the Meal Gap report.
- Only Adams (27.6%), Meigs (26.7%) and Scioto (26.1%) counties rank worse.
The big picture: Childhood food insecurity is one piece of a broader hunger problem exacerbated by rising food costs.
- The annual aggregate national food budget shortfall — meaning, the total amount of money people in food-insecure U.S. households need to buy enough food — rose from $28.5 billion in 2022 to $32.2 billion in 2023, up 8.4% inflation-adjusted.
What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Warrensville Heights) voiced opposition to the proposed SNAP cuts in remarks at the House Agriculture Committee hearing Tuesday.
- "Let's call this what it is: a reverse Robin Hood. Taking food away from those who need it most — not because we have to, but because my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would rather give tax handouts to the ultra-wealthy."