Background & Facts

1.How many people in Chicago go hungry?

Quick Facts:

• According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, one in five households in Chicago are facing food insecurity.
• The Chicago Food Depository Hunger Report saw a 2.5% increase in food insecure households from 481,720 in 2019 to 613,680 in 2021.
• The child food insecurity rate in Greater Chicago Food Depository was 15.8% in 2017 meaning that that number has most likely drastically increased since.

Going Hungry



2.How many of these are children?

Around:

• 1 in 4 children in Cook County are at risk of hunger.
• 1 in 5 families in Chicago are facing food insecurity.

Starving Children




3.Where do children who are food insecure get food when not in school?

Places children who are food insecure get food when not in school are:

• College Pantries- Families can receive a variety of healthy foods, including fresh produce and shelf-stable items.
• Shelters- Children in shelters recieve food when enrolled.
• Food Programs- People in food programs recieve food from these programs.

Recieving Help




4.Demographic breakdown

Statistics show:

• Black and Latinx communities in Chicago are more likely to be food insecure than predominantly white communities and this follows a national trend.
• 50% seniors and 50% young people from the ages of 18 and 55 are facing food insecurity
• Transwomen, gender-nonconforming people and women who identify as lesbian or bisexual tend to have lower incomes compared to the general population and to gay men, which can lead to increased food insecurity.

Demographic




5.Which areas of Chicago are most affected?

Areas of Chicago that are most affected with food insecurity are:

• Riverdale (40.8%), Washington Park (34.0%), Englewood and North Lawndale (both at 31.2%) had the highest rates of food insecurity in the City of Chicago, while Ford Heights (55.5%), Robbins (45.0%) and Dixmoor (38.7%) had the highest rate in the suburbs.

Areas of Chicago affected by food insecurity






6.Reasons why food insecurity is an issue in Chicago

Reasons why food insecurity is an issue in Chicago are:

• unemployment
• lack of access to transportation
• health problems
• high living costs
• expensive housing
• low-wage jobs

Food Insecurity