Facts About Food Insecurity in Illinois

• According to the United States Department if Agriculture in 2021 over 13.5 Million households in the United States were food insecure.
• Over 2.5 million people in Illinois Experienced Food Insecurity in 2021
• Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP and visit their local food banks, food pantries and other food programs for extra support.

Food insecurity affects individuals and households across Illinois, transcending geographical boundaries and demographics. It refers to the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the inability to acquire enough food to meet one’s dietary needs. According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report, in 2021, approximately 10.6% of Illinois’s population, equivalent to over 2.3 million people, experienced food insecurity.