Access to food on Long Island dips 10 percent

Food insecurity — the lack of access to food — on Long Island rose by 10 percent in 2023, according to Feeding America’s newly released “Map the Meal Gap” report, prompting urgent calls for action from regional hunger relief advocates.

The study estimates that 240,470 people in Nassau and Suffolk counties faced food insecurity last year, up from 221,190 in 2022. That translates to roughly one in 12 Long Islanders struggling to access adequate food, compared to one in 13 the year prior.

“This is an urgent call to action that demands immediate attention from our representatives in the federal government,” Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank, said in a news release.

While the child food insecurity rate remained relatively unchanged, 44,520 children in 2023 compared to 44,780 in 2022, Shubin Dresner said overall need has intensified due to post-pandemic economic pressures, reduced federal support for emergency food programs, and the region’s high cost of living.

Island Harvest distributed about 18.3 million pounds of food in 2024 and expects to reach 20 million pounds in 2025 through its network of more than 300 member agencies and direct-service programs.

"The profound discrepancies in the poverty level on Long Island, caused by outdated federal guidelines that do not consider the high cost of living here, are having a significant impact on our community and the chronic and persistent issue of hunger, Shubin Dresner said in the release. “We urge our representatives to take a regional look at poverty, recognizing and reflecting on the real cost of living on Long Island versus other areas of the country.”

Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Topline Findings – Long Island

• 240,470 people were food insecure in 2023, up from 221,190 in 2022 — a 10 percent increase.
• One in 12 Long Islanders (8.3 percent) experienced food insecurity in 2023, compared to one in 13 (7.6 percent) in 2022.

Demographic Breakdown

• Black residents:
• 12% experienced food insecurity in 2023, up from 9 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 8 in 2023, up from one in 11 in 2022.
• Hispanic residents (any race):
• 16 percent experienced food insecurity in 2023, up from 15 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 6 in 2023, up from one in 7 in 2022.
• White, non-Hispanic residents:
• 5 percent experienced food insecurity in 2023, up from 4 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 20 in 2023, up from one in 25 in 2022.

Child Food Insecurity

• 7.2 percent childhood food insecurity rate in 2023 nearly unchanged from 7.3 percent in 2022.
• 44,520 children were food insecure in 2023, down slightly from 44,780 in 2022.
• Among children in households earning below 185 percent of the federal poverty line:
• Food insecurity rate was 58 percent in 2023, down from 61 percent in 2022.
• Among children in households above 185 percent of the federal poverty line:
• Food insecurity rose to 42 percent in 2023, up from 39 percent in 2022.

Note: This suggests food insecurity is increasing among households ineligible for federal food assistance, a “fiscal cliff” effect driven by the region’s high cost of living.

Nassau County

• 107,760 people were food insecure in 2023, up from 97,520 in 2022 — a 10 percent increase.
• 7.8 percent of residents experienced food insecurity in 2023, up from 7 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 13 in 2023, up from one in 14 in 2022.
• 19,710 children were food insecure in 2023, up from 19,590 in 2022.
• 6.6 percent childhood food insecurity rate in 2023, unchanged from 2022.
• Ratio: One in 15 children in 2023, consistent with 2022.

Suffolk County

• 132,710 people were food insecure in 2023, up from 123,570 in 2022 — a  10 percent increase.
• 8.7 percent of residents experienced food insecurity in 2023, up from 8.1 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 11 in 2023, up from one in 12 in 2022.
• 24,810 children were food insecure in 2023, slightly down from 25,190 in 2022.
• 7.8 percent childhood food insecurity rate in 2023, down slightly from 8 percent in 2022.
• Ratio: One in 13 children in 2023, slightly better than one in 12 in 2022.