From the cover
Economic hardships drive food assistance demand
Put in perspective
The overview
A reduction in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program bene ts has also led to higher food pantry turnouts. Households receiving this government assistance—including 9.5% of Cy-Fair households, according to the U.S. Census Bureau— lost at least $95 a month when a temporary increase due to the pandemic expired after February 2023. The estimated average monthly SNAP bene t is $202 for a one-person household and $713 for a family of four. Borawski said due to their Social Security income, seniors may be eligible for much less in SNAP bene ts—as little as $23 per month. “We’ve noticed SNAP bene ts being less across the board for most families, and then it seems like everybody’s underemployed—they’re making money but not making enough,” Borawski said. The Census Bureau reports nearly 25% of Cy-Fair households earn less than $50,000 a year. Full-time minimum-wage workers, for instance, have a gross income of about $15,000. About 66% of Cy-Fair households receiving SNAP bene ts include children. Local nonpro t Cy-Hope sends 700 kids in need home with a backpack full of food each weekend, Backpack Program Director Essence Castro said. “Those kids who, unfortunately, are not getting the proper nutrition, act out ... They can’t concen- trate, so now they’re not passing,” she said. Ocials with Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, celebrated a handful of new Texas laws that went into eect in September that: • Increased the vehicle value limit for SNAP applicants • Allowed inmates to apply for SNAP bene ts before going on parole • Removed motor vehicle taxes and registration fees for vehicles used by food banks However, Feeding Texas ocials said addressing the SNAP application backlog should be a priority.
In October, 28 million Americans reported not having enough food in the last seven days—up from 19.8 million Americans in fall 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Cy-Fair food pantries saw high demand in 2023, and nonprot leaders said they expect to see this growth continue throughout 2024. Grocery ination; utility and rent cost increases; and more migrants coming to Houston from other countries all contribute to this growth, said Henry Lombraña, the food pantry director for Cypress Assistance Ministries. These higher numbers are driving some organizations to limit their services. Lombraña said increased demand in 2023 led to longer wait times for clients, so CAM sta decided to temporarily transition from having clients select their own food to distributing prepacked food boxes with clients’ needs. Additionally, food donations have been down for some organizations that partially rely on local churches, businesses and individuals to donate. Jeanie Borawski, the food pantry manager for Cy-Fair-based MESA Outreach, said the organization went from serving about 180 families at each food pantry in 2021 to 450 families by mid-2023. At the same time, food donations decreased by about 40% last year. “Donations have gone down so much because of the cost of food, and we found ourselves really having to kind of scrounge to make sure we had enough,” she said. “So we made the decision to change to being ZIP code-restricted for who we serve through our pantry.”
Food inflation
+10.4%
+6.3%
+3.9%
+2.7%
+1.8%
2019 2020
2021
2022
2023
Weekly SNAP shopping The average one-person household receiving SNAP benets gets $202 per month—about $50 a week—to spend on groceries. Pandemic- era benets, which provided at least $95 in additional funds each month, ended in 2023.
Grocery item 1 gallon milk 12 oz. cereal
Price $2.99 $3.99 $1.69 $7.49 $2.19 $3.79 $3.79 $4.19 $1.69 $4.99 $1.79 $2.39 $4.99 $4.49
12 eggs
12 oz. co¢ee
1 loaf sandwich bread 16 oz. peanut butter
18 oz. grape jelly
1 pound strawberries 10 oz. mixed vegetables 1 pound ground beef 16 oz. spaghetti noodles
24 oz. pasta sauce
Frozen pizza 11 oz. salad kit
$50.46
Total
The local impact
NOTE: GROCERY PRICES LISTED ARE FROM A CYPRESS KROGER STORE ON JAN. 15
SOURCES: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, KROGER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Cy-Fair Helping Hands 32,062 people were fed in 2023 Cypress Assistance Ministries 66% increase in demand from 2022-23 MESA Outreach 1,000 families being served each month Cy-Hope 200 kids added to the weekend feeding program from 2021-23
The conditions
58% of Houstonians spent more on groceries in 2023 than in 2022.
21% increase in Houston-area rent costs from 2020-23
3% increase in general food prices is expected in 2024, while beef and dairy products are expected to rise 5%-8%
$9.6B in emergency SNAP benets went to Texans from April 2020-January 2023.
SOURCES: CHARLES SCHWAB 2023 MODERN WEALTH SURVEY, COLLIERS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, GOV. GREG ABBOTT’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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