Hunger in Maryland Remains Persistent, Greater Investments Needed

BALTIMORE, September 11, 2024 —  Maryland Hunger Solutions is deeply concerned that 2.29 million households across the state struggled to put food on the table in 2023, according to the latest Household Food Security report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. The data underscores Maryland Hunger Solutions’ ongoing warning: Without greater investments in anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs, hunger in the state is likely to only worsen.

This spike was likely largely driven by inflation and the rollback of critical COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts that provided temporary boosts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, allowed schools to offer school meals to all their students at no charge, and programs such as Summer SNAP for Children. Even though household food insecurity in 2023 is reportedly lower in Maryland at 10.4 percent compared to the national average of 13.5 percent, and statistically lower among households in the Northeast region of the U.S. at 12.0 percent, more needs to be done to ensure Marylanders have continued access to critical programs and resources addressing hunger and poverty.

Food insecurity in Maryland and across the country would be much worse without federal nutrition programs and initiatives aimed at addressing poverty.

SNAP is our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, but the benefit levels are still too low. Although advancements were made during the 2024 Maryland Legislative session to expand SNAP access, decreasing the eligibility age for the state-supplemental benefit amount from 62 to 60 years of age and increasing benefits from $40 to $50, policymakers must build on these proven interventions so that all households may thrive.

Additionally, Maryland Hunger Solutions is urging legislators to make free Healthy School Meals for All available to all students in the state of Maryland, following in the footsteps of the eight states that have passed Healthy School Meals for All policies.

Congress also must pass a permanent expanded and inclusive Child Tax Credit to create a more prosperous, nourished, and equitable state and nation. We have the tools needed to end hunger. It’s time to wield them and finally make hunger in Maryland a thing of the past.