1 Million LA County Households Are Food Insecure, USC Report Finds

A recent USC study finds that about 1 million households in Los Angeles County are having trouble accessing enough food — a 6% increase from last year.

"That's actually the highest rate [of food insecurity] we've recorded since 2010," said Kayla de la Haye, who directs the Institute for Food System Equity at USC and is the study's lead author.

According to the figures — women, Black and Latino, and low-income residents are among those disproportionately affected. Specifically:

• 77% are low-income
• 59% are women
• 62% are Hispanic/Latino
• 55% are those between the ages of 18 and 40

"Black and Latino County residents are more than two times more likely to be food insecure compared to white residents in the County," said de la Haye.

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And an alarming number of the affected households have children.

"The consequences of this can really set these kids on to poor trajectories for their health and their well being in the long run," said Kayla de la Haye. "They may have more trouble concentrating, more risk for anxiety."

The report suggested inflation in food prices as a possible cause, as well as the end to a pandemic-era increase of CalFresh benefits.