Food insecurity is not always obvious. In the Houston Food Bank’s 18-county service area over 1 million people are food insecure. The food insecurity rate of children and adults is 15.4%, which is higher than the national average of 13.5%. Children, parents, seniors, and veterans can all be affected by food insecurity.

Read more below from Houston Food Bank staff members who provide facts to correct the most common myths associated with food insecurity.

KATHERINE BYERS, Ph.D. Government Relations Officer

Myth: People who are facing food insecurity have spent their money on things they don’t need.

Fact: It is a myth that families who are food insecure cannot afford enough nutritious food because they spend money on trivial things. Surveys1 reveal that food insecurity often results in families having to make difficult decisions between paying for groceries and other necessities, such as medical care, housing, utilities, and transportation. These tradeoffs have significant consequences for family health and stability. The Houston Food Bank and our partners support policy changes that create affordable and safe housing, medical coverage, and access to healthy food to eliminate these dire choices between basic needs.

Celeste Hernandez, Health Promotion Specialist

Myth: People who are referred to as “overweight” or “obese” are not food insecure.

Fact: Food insecurity does not discriminate based on body size. Anyone, large or small, can experience food insecurity. All body sizes deserve access to balanced meals and safe food. Food insecurity shows up in many ways, and sometimes that means not having access to nutrient-dense food options or competing demands, like paying for food or medicine. In our programs at Houston Food Bank, we listen to the needs of our clients of all body sizes and aim to connect them to the resources they need.

JANICE LE CHW, Innovation and Special Projects Supervisor

Myth: SNAP spending is out of control, an economic drain, or bad for the economy.

Fact: On the contrary, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stimulates the economy, and this idea is supported by economists. Many families who are low-income will often have to choose between paying for food, shelter, transportation, or medicine. Because SNAP recipients receive support to meet their nutritional needs, it increases their personal purchasing power. SNAP is economic stimulus as funds are put back into the economy, quickly, for example, 97% of benefits are utilized within a month $1 in SNAP can generate about $1.70 in economic activity. SNAP also positively effects children – Research shows that access to SNAP at a young age leads to a greater likelihood of graduating high school, better preparing children for economic success. Overall, SNAP positively impacts the economy in multiple ways.2, 3, 4

CAROLINA CANO, Government Relations Manager

Myth: People who face hunger in America are typically experiencing homelessness and are unemployed.

Fact: Most of the households we serve are not experiencing homelessness. In fact, 97% have housing and 2/3 of households have a working adult. Even with a job and a place to call home, many people struggle to get by due to underemployment, low wages, and rising costs of living.

JA’TERRELL MOFFETT, Sourcing Manager

Myth: Food Insecurity is driven by lack of food.

Fact: Food insecurity is driven by other social determinants like unaffordable housing, low wages, lack of transportation, etc. Financial instability is what drives food insecurity. The lack of nutritious food stands in the way of families becoming financially stable and successful. Also, financial hardship can be sudden and unexpected or long-term due to low-wage employment that is intermittent and without sick leave leading to layoffs.

References

1 Household Food Security in the US 2023
2 Debunking Myths About Food Stamps, National Consumers League
3 Policy Basics: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
4 SNAP and Kids Fact Sheet, No Kid Hungry