Cost Of Living, Resource Access Identified As Food Insecurity Challenges In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A food insecurity study report released in March revealed an estimated 8 percent of Alexandrians are food insecure and identified some of the challenges around food insecurity.

The study commissioned by Alexandria's Department of Community and Human Services assessed food insecurity among Alexandria families, experiences of people accessing food programs and recommended improvements to better meet the needs of food insecure residents. The city used American Rescue Plan Act funding for the study, which involved a consultant analyzing city data and researching client experiences.

A survey with 245 resident responses helped inform the report. There were also 70 participants in focus groups targeting older adults, unhoused residents, food pantry guests, and Latino and African immigrants.

The main finding of the study was that 8 percent of households face food insecurity and 9 percent of residents live below the federal poverty line. In addition, 44 percent of Alexandria residents identified as food insecure were not eligible for government assistance programs, suggesting that the high cost of living is contributing to food insecurity. In the survey, 79 percent of respondents said they often or sometimes couldn't afford to eat balanced meals.

Overall, the city found high satisfaction with food assistance programs. However, some indicated it was a challenge to access food assistance without evening or weekend availability. Other challenges included knowledge of services, access to food assistance and trust in food assistance programs. The city identified unhoused residents, older adults, immigrants and non-English speakers and the Latino community as disproportionately impacted by food insecurity.

The report concluded that thousands of residents facing food insecurity find assistance programs helpful, but some residents have trouble accessing them. The report recommends the city continue its programs while making adjustments like more night and weekend hours for food distribution, keep neighbors in the decision-making process, increase direct neighbor outreach and provide delivery for select populations.

More information on food assistance is available on the city's website.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.