New data: Hunger reaches families in every Indiana county

By Joe Ulery • Indiana News Service

Nearly 1.1 million Hoosiers experienced food insecurity in 2024, including more than 327,000 children.

The latest Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America showed the problem exists in every Indiana county and is especially pronounced in rural areas.

Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of the nonprofit Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, said the latest numbers revealed a significant change among younger Hoosiers.

“The percentage for food insecurity in children in 2021 was just under 13%, and for the 2024 data, it is just under 21%,” Bryant reported. “We are talking about one in five Hoosier kids who doesn’t know where their next meal will come from.”

The numbers reflect conditions in 2024 and predate more recent changes affecting federal nutrition programs. The study estimated 61% of food-insecure Hoosiers had incomes too high to qualify for SNAP. Indiana households also faced a $691 million gap between what they could afford and what they needed for food.

A financial emergency can leave families struggling with groceries even when they have income coming into the household. Bryant pointed out the people behind the numbers can find themselves facing food insecurity for many different reasons.

“If someone lost their job today or was in a domestic violence situation that they were escaping or had a medical incident that took over and was all-consuming, those are the types of scenarios that can cause food insecurity,” Bryant outlined.

Seven of Indiana’s 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural. For children, the challenge can extend beyond the household grocery budget. The study estimates 36% of Indiana children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.