Pandemic Food Insecurity

Phil: So, Sally, some good news out of the pandemic. Very little good news out of the pandemic, but it has to do with food insecurity. Tell us about that.

Sally: Yes, so when we look at households that have children in them and have experienced food insecurity, the good news is that where we are now is we have seen those numbers go down. So, as for example, as of 2021, we had an estimated 12.5% of households with children that lacked access to enough food for a healthy household. Now, that number went to 12.5% in 2021, it was 14.8% in 2020, and in 2009 it was 21.3. So we are experiencing the lowest share on record of this in our history.

Phil: And a lot of it has to do with, you know, the government giving money to people during the pandemic. Certainly, but I guess the learning for me is we can control food insecurity. If you look at the White House conference that just took place, one of one of their major pillars is food insecurity. So it can be done, but there's some critics that are out there that are saying, Hey, you know, the, you know, if we just give money away, sure we're gonna solve the problem. But isn't that the point? Isn't that the point of government to keep people from being food insecure? And yes, that's where our taxes are going to be able to avoid these kinds of issues and these kinds of problems.