Food insecurity reaches 13% in El Paso County
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More than one in 10 residents in El Paso County struggle to consistently access enough food, a new report shows.
Why it matters: The substantial need is putting pressure on local food banks as families grapple with the high costs of groceries, housing and gas, all while cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) create additional uncertainty.
By the numbers: Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap report shows food insecurity is rising locally and statewide.
- In El Paso County, about 12.8% of residents — nearly 95,000 people — have limited or uncertain access to adequate food, according to 2024 data, the latest available.
- That's an increase from 10.2% in 2020, when 72,700 were short on food.
- The county would need to spend $69.5 million more to meet food needs for its residents.
The big picture: Colorado experienced a more substantial increase in food insecurity, rising from 8.3% in 2020 to 13.3% in 2024, the report showed.
- About 791,000 people in the state went without access to adequate food.
Reality check: The state would need to spend $570.5 million to adequately address the problem.
Zoom in: The report also estimated that 47% of food-insecure residents in El Paso County earn too much to qualify for SNAP benefits based on income, highlighting the role food banks play for families outside the federal safety net.
- The average cost per meal in the county increased to $3.85 in 2024.
What we're watching: Food banks worry demand could continue to rise as Colorado implements federal changes to SNAP.
- Beginning in 2027, states with SNAP payment error rates higher than 6% will shoulder a share of benefit costs.
- Colorado's error rate was 10% in fiscal year 2025, meaning the state will need to cover 15% of the costs, or roughly $200 million per fiscal year.