The Capital Area Food Bank released its annual Hunger Report, sounding the alarm that food insecurity in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has risen to a five‑year high. The survey, conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago, found that 38% of households across the District, Maryland and Virginia experienced food insecurity at some point during the past year.
Local families feel the pressure
“The food security of households across the DMV is deteriorating,” said Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, in an interview with WTOP. “More families tell us their finances are getting worse, and for the first time since 2022, fewer than half report high confidence in their ability to get the food that they need.”
Muthiah identified several factors behind the spike. Regional job losses, especially cuts to federal positions and funding, have left many families without steady income. Wages have not kept pace with inflation, she added, creating “real pressure on household purchasing power.” The lingering effects of last year’s 43‑day government shutdown also compounded the difficulty of putting food on the table.
Uneven impact across the region
The report highlighted stark differences between jurisdictions. Food insecurity rates ranged from about 22% in Arlington County to a high of 56% in Prince George’s County. Women reported higher rates of insecurity than men, and 34% of children in the DMV live in food‑insecure households.
Federal policy adds to concerns
Food‑bank officials warned that the upcoming federal funding bill H.R. 1 could exacerbate the problem. The legislation is projected to cut SNAP benefits for roughly 50,000 households over the next two years, eliminating an estimated 40 meals per month for each affected family.
“Those cuts would strip away a vital safety net for families already struggling to afford basic nutrition,” Muthiah said.
Food Bank response
In response to the growing need, the Capital Area Food Bank is preparing to distribute 70 million meals this year—10 million more than the previous year. The organization continues to seek financial support, noting that every donated dollar enables the provision of two meals to someone in need.
Community members who wish to help can contribute directly through the Food Bank’s website, where the full Hunger Report is also available for download.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
