HOUSTON, Texas – A new study in Harris County shows that Black and Hispanic families experience the highest rates of food insecurity, as local officials and community groups respond with food distribution events in neighborhoods with limited grocery access such as Gulfton.
Researchers in the study measure food insecurity by assessing families’ consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
The study finds that Black and Hispanic households report higher levels of difficulty in affording or accessing adequate food compared with white and non-Hispanic households in Harris County.
The report identifies income level, neighborhood resources and transportation access as key factors that influence the likelihood of a family experiencing food insecurity.
Researchers state that neighborhoods with fewer full-service grocery stores and higher concentrations of poverty show higher food insecurity rates.
County-level data in the report show that households with children experience food insecurity at higher rates than households without children.
Black and Hispanic parents in the study report making tradeoffs between paying for rent, utilities, health care and purchasing sufficient food.