New Research Shows Rising Food Insecurity in California and Estimates Nearly 40% of Californians Are Unable to Meet Basic Needs

California Association of Food Banks estimates that 16 million people in California have incomes below the cost of basic needs, indicating a need for food assistance.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – (May 19, 2026) – The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is announcing new research and data related to food insecurity and the potential need for food assistance. Up until its cancellation, the USDA’s annual household food security study was one of the nation’s key tools for tracking year-to-year change in food access. Because no data is available beyond 2024, CAFB sought to establish a new California food insecurity baseline with 2025 data before changes from the federal H.R.1 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” go into effect, which will limit SNAP eligibility and other social benefits.

“Using our research and data expertise, CAFB’s goal is to share a clearer, more current picture of the potential need for food assistance in California at both the state and county level,” said Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO of CAFB. “By pairing trusted survey data with a measure tied to the real cost of living, we can better anticipate where demand will be highest and support food banks and public leaders as they plan budgets, programs and supply to ensure people can access nutritious food.”

New Food Insecurity Data for California

First, CAFB partnered with the Urban Institute (UI) to obtain California data from its annual Well Being and Basic Needs Survey, which indicates that in 2025:

• 1 out of 4 adults in California experienced food insecurity
• 1 in 3 adults living with children in California experienced food insecurity
• 1 out of 5 adults in California reported their households received free food from the charitable food system, including almost a third (31%) of households earning up to 400% of federal poverty level

“Even with data from studies like these, food insecurity rates don’t always capture the full scope of who may need help,” said Levenfeld. “Because hunger is often a symptom of broader economic strain, CAFB’s research team is piloting a new measure that estimates how many Californians don’t have enough income to cover the basic cost of living in the communities where they live. By looking at this at both the state and county level, we can better anticipate where people are most likely to need food assistance and plan to meet that need.”

New Measure Estimates Californians Unable to Meet Basic Needs

Secondly, CAFB is also piloting a new measure to estimate the potential need for food assistance with a dashboard that displays the information by state and by county. This measure estimates that for 16 million people in California, or around 40% of the population, the cost of basic needs in their community exceeds their income. As a result, many people in this group may seek support from their local food banks at some point. In most counties, this measure corresponds with incomes well over 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), the eligibility cap for many federal programs; in some counties, making as high as 400% of FPL is still not enough to cover basic needs.

Basic needs include housing, health care, transportation, childcare, and food, and the costs of these expenses depend on where people live and the size of their household.

The measure is based on The Real Cost Measure in California created by United Way of California, and adds estimates of populations relevant to food banks: households led by older adults or people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.

In addition, CAFB found that food insecure families had a higher likelihood than food secure families of:

• using cash from payday loans to pay for groceries
• using savings that were not intended for routine expenses to pay for groceries
• not paying the minimum required payment on a credit card

These behaviors lead to less financial stability and increased need for assistance.

Since 2024, CAFB’s network of 43 food banks and nearly 6,000 community partners have been serving 6 million people per month in need of food assistance, up from 4.5 million at the height of the pandemic. As the effects of H.R.1 impacts to SNAP (CalFresh in California) limit and remove benefits for an estimated 737,000 Californians, food banks are anticipating needing to serve more people with fewer resources.

In response, CAFB is asking the State to include $60M ongoing and an additional $50M in one-time CalFood funding for the purchase of California grown or produced foods to help those in need. The aid will help food banks meet increased demand from the cuts to SNAP, as well as to mitigate the loss of nearly 40% reduction in food from the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)—a loss of more than $100 million year-over-year.

Community members who would like to help are encouraged to support their local food bank through volunteering or donating funds, shelf-stable food and hygiene items – or contact their local legislators to advocate for increased CalFood funding. A full list of CAFB member food banks can be found at www.cafoodbanks.org/members.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS

Since the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) formed in 1996, it has grown into a powerful network leading the fight against hunger in California with a shared belief that access to food is a fundamental right. California produces more than enough nutritious food to feed everyone in the state. CAFB partners with 43 food banks who support close to 6,000 community-based organizations with a common mission: to end hunger. Through collaborative partnerships, CAFB is a collective force making equitable access to food the standard, not the exception. For more information about CAFB, please visit cafoodbanks.org.