Texas leads nation in food insecurity

DALLAS / FORT WORTH, TX — New data released by the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) reveals a sobering reality for local families: Texas remains the most food-insecure state in the nation, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ranks fourth nationwide in the total number of people experiencing hunger.

According to Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study, 1 in 4 children in DFW now face hunger. Across the 25 North Texas counties served by NTFB and TAFB, nearly 1.4 million individuals are food insecure—36% of whom (506,050) are children. To put that in perspective, the number of food-insecure children in North Texas is greater than the total combined populations of Denton and Plano.

Key Takeaways at a Glance

• Statewide Crisis: Texas leads the U.S. in food insecurity for the third consecutive year, with a 19.4% food insecurity rate affecting 6.06 million people.
• DFW Rankings: DFW trails only Los Angeles, New York, and Houston in total food-insecure residents.
• Income Gap: Approximately 54% of food-insecure families in DFW earn above the threshold to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, leaving them reliant on local charitable networks.
• Concentrated Need: Over 61% of North Texans facing hunger live in Dallas and Tarrant counties.

High Living Costs Drive Record Need

The rise in food insecurity across every ZIP code in North Texas is closely tied to persistent economic pressures. According to recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Texas Workforce Commission, essential expenses continue to outpace household incomes:

• Housing: Over half of Texas renters and 30% of homeowners spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
• Utilities & Transportation: DFW utility costs have risen nearly 19% over the past year, while Texas gas prices remain roughly 45% higher than early 2024 levels.
• Groceries: Food prices have surged between 25% and 30% overall since 2020.

“As the cost of living continues to outpace household incomes, families across every ZIP code in North Texas are increasingly having to make tough decisions about whether to buy the groceries they need or pay for other essentials, such as gas, rent, medication, or utilities,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank.

Julie Butner, President and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank, added: “The latest data confirms what our partners, schools, and community organizations are seeing every day: too many children and families are still facing difficult choices as household costs remain high.”

The Role of Local Food Banks and SNAP Policy

Together, NTFB and TAFB—along with their network of more than 1,000 partner pantries and community organizations—provided access to 186 million physical meals last year.

However, charitable networks alone cannot meet the total need without strong federal support. Proposed shifts to the federal SNAP program under H.R. 1 could pass significant administrative and benefit costs down to the state level over the next two years. Non-profit leaders warn that these changes could stretch local resources thin unless Congress grants a implementation delay.

How You Can Take Action

1. Urge Lawmakers to Protect SNAP: Contact your members of Congress and advocate for a delay in federal cost-sharing implementations to protect essential nutrition support in Texas.
2. Support Your Local Food Bank: Volunteer or donate directly to the North Texas Food Bank or the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
3. Explore the Data: Visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap to see county-level interactive maps and local food insecurity insights.