https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/food-insecurity

Food insecurity may be long term or temporary.4,5,6 It may be influenced by a number of factors, including income, employment, race/ethnicity, and disability. The risk for food insecurity increases when money to buy food is limited or not available.7,8,9,10,11 In 2020, 28.6 percent of low-income households were food insecure, compared to the national average of 10.5 percent.2 Unemployment can also negatively affect a household’s food security status.10 High unemployment rates among low-income populations make it more difficult to meet basic household food needs.10 In addition, children with unemployed parents have higher rates of food insecurity than children with employed parents.12 Disabled adults may be at a higher risk for food insecurity due to limited employment opportunities and health care-related expenses that reduce the income available to buy food.13,14 Racial and ethnic disparities exist related to food insecurity. In 2020, Black non-Hispanic households were over 2 times more likely to be food insecure than the national average (21.7 percent versus 10.5 percent, respectively). Among Hispanic households, the prevalence of food insecurity was 17.2 percent compared to the national average of 10.5 percent.2 Potential factors influencing these disparities may include neighborhood conditions, physical access to food, and lack of transportation.