A new poll commissioned by No Kid Hungry New York lays bare the struggles New Yorkers are facing every day: an affordability crisis is making it increasingly difficult to afford basic necessities, like groceries. A staggering 85% of respondents reported the cost of food was rising faster than their income, with nearly 4 in 5 saying it had become harder to afford groceries in the past year.
The impact is real: Hunger is showing up in every community across our state.
As one Upstate mom told us, “I know several families that have to cut corners and not give their children protein and fresh produce with every meal. They are hurting.” And they aren’t alone – just under half (43%) of respondents reported having faced food insecurity in the past year. This is families skipping meals entirely or not eating enough nutritious food because they can’t afford to buy enough groceries. Worse yet, these numbers are even higher among parents of school-age children and New Yorkers living in rural communities.
New Yorkers are sacrificing their time and being forced to purchase less healthy food options in an attempt to stretch their grocery budgets. In an effort to make ends meet, many families are resorting to shopping at multiple locations to find the best deals (60%) and buying less or passing up entirely on more nutritious options like proteins (51%) and fresh produce (45%).
For these families, school and summer meals are a vital resource. One Oneida County father said that while “food prices have doubled for us in the last 12-18 months […] Having free meals in our school has helped us stretch our food budget to make sure we have enough food for meals.” Still, more than half report being more stressed figuring out how to afford enough nutritious food compared to this time last year.
Affordability is about more than just the rent. For millions of our neighbors—especially families with kids—the affordability crisis is a painful reality every time they get in the grocery checkout line. Our poll shows rising food prices are outpacing families’ incomes in every part of the state. And because of it, New Yorkers are facing hunger, being forced to purchase less healthy food and becoming increasingly stressed about their ability to make ends meet. New Yorkers are more united than ever in saying they want bipartisan action to end child hunger.
There are proven policies and programs that work and New Yorkers want to see them expanded to reach all the kids who need them. An overwhelming majority (93%) of New Yorkers support no-cost school meals being offered to all children who need them, while 88% support grocery benefits (like SNAP and WIC) increasing at the same rate as food prices.
New Yorkers want action – and 93% agree ending childhood hunger should be a bipartisan goal. This underscores the need for united, bipartisan commitment to this cause at all levels of government.
Ending childhood hunger is a top priority for all of us. When our kids are well-nourished, they’re able to reach their full potential. Learn more about the ways you can help hungry kids in New York and across the U.S.