Food Security & Trade-Offs
Includes food affordability challenges, trade-offs between basic needs, meal adequacy, food program usage, and barriers to food access
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Trade-Off Against Food
Trade-offs respondents made between purchasing food and other basic needs.
50.8%
Half of respondents made a choice between paying for food or medicine in the past year.
32.5%
Nearly a third of respondents made monthly trade-offs between food and transportation.
No Money for Food
Respondents reported how often their food didn’t last and they had no money to get more.
82.4%
Most respondents stated running out of food sometimes or often.
Food Access and Hardship
In the past 12 months, respondents reported that adults in the household reduced the size of meals or skipped meals because there was not enough money for food.
53.5%
Over half of respondents reported that adults in the household reduced their food intake due to a lack of money.
Eating Less
In the past 12 months, respondents reported eating less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food.
59.6%
Over half of respondents reported eating less than they felt they should due to a lack of money.
Not Eating
In the past 12 months, respondents reported being hungry but not eating because there wasn’t enough money for food.
48.4%
Nearly half of respondents were hungry but didn’t eat due to a lack of money.
Decisions for Accessing Food Assistance
Respondents reported whether they plan to attend food distributions regularly or wait until they run out of food.
78.2%
The majority of those surveyed plan to receive food at their surveyed site regularly.
Coping Strategies
Coping strategies respondents used to get enough food for their household in the past 12 months.
75.4%
The majority of respondents bought the cheapest food even though it was not the healthiest option in the past 12 months.
Cooking and Food Storage
Current residence has access to a stove, microwave, or hotplate to cook food and cold storage.
96.9%
Respondents have access to at least one of the mentioned cooking appliances.
Household Use of Food Programs Over the Past Year
The number of times a household received food from a food program or other grocery program (including this visit).
30.9%
Nearly a third of respondents visited a food program or grocery program every month for the past year.
Portion of Food from Program
The percentage of household food provided by food programs in the past 4 weeks.
40.7%
Respondents reported receiving 1–2 weeks’ worth of food from grocery programs in the past 4 weeks.
Difficulty of Access to Food Program or Service
Report having difficutly getting services at this food program related to trouble communicating with staff or volunteers.
90.7%
The majority did not have issues with communication with staff or volunteers.
Travel and Access Methods
Means of transportation for respondents to access this food program.
73.2%
Traveled by vehicle, including most driving themself.
17.8%
Rode with family or friends.
Transportation Barriers
Respondents that cited transportation access as a barrier to getting groceries back home
11%
Listed transportation as a barrier.
Program Information and Communication Barriers
Respondents that cited information or communication barriers from programs because of no phone number, lack of knowledge of the staff or online information unavailable/outdated.
4%
Respondents noted lack of a program phone number as a communication barrier.
4.6%
Respondents noted a lack of program information on the internet as a communication barrier.
Environmental Barriers
Environmental barriers including physical access or unsupportive staff/volunteers on site.
2.2%
Unsupportive staff/volunteers.
2.7%
Physical barriers included inability to access with a wheelchair/stroller.
Logistical and Administrative Barriers
13.7%
Respondents noted long waits as a barrier.
4.7%
Respondents noted limited hours as a barrier.
Nutritional Barriers
Nutritional barriers including not enough foods to meet health, medical, or cultural needs.
12.2%
Respondents noted nutritional barriers.
Access to Safe and Sufficient Water
Reported difficulty accessing safe and sufficient household water in the past 12 months.
25.2%
A quarter of respondents noted difficulties with accessing safe and sufficient water.