What is "Food Insecurity"?

Food insecurity is something we talk about a lot — but we don’t always pause to talk about what it really means for the people living it. It’s not just hunger. Hunger is a feeling.

Food insecurity is the day‑to‑day stress of not knowing if you’ll have enough food to stay healthy, active, and stable.

For many of our neighbors, it looks like stretching meals, choosing cheaper food because it’s all the budget allows, or parents quietly going without so their kids can eat. It’s making choices no one should have to make — groceries or rent, dinner or medication.

And here in Connecticut, this reality is far more common than most people realize.

Let’s talk about ALICE — because this is who we’re seeing every day.

In our state, 40% of households live below the ALICE Threshold.

That’s more than 580,000 families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They’re working — often more than one job — but still can’t afford the basics.

And when we say “basics,” we mean the actual cost of living in Connecticut:

A single adult needs $38,000–$39,000 a year just to cover essentials.

A family of four needs $116,000–$126,000 a year to stay afloat.

These numbers are more than double — sometimes quadruple — the federal poverty guidelines. So yes, people are “over income” on paper, but nowhere near what it takes to survive here.

And here’s the part that hits hardest: SNAP isn’t catching everyone.

Even before federal cuts:

More than 500,000 Connecticut residents were food insecure.

43% of them — 222,000 people — didn’t qualify for SNAP.

These are the families doing everything “right,” working as hard as they can, and still falling short. They’re not eligible for help, but they absolutely need it.

And then came the cuts.

Since early 2026:

More than 72,000 Connecticut residents have lost SNAP benefits.

SNAP participation is now the lowest it’s been since 2009.

When benefits disappear and costs keep rising, people turn to community food programs — not because they want to, but because they have nowhere else to go.

This is why SOFB is seeing such a dramatic increase.

People come to us because:

We remove barriers. No hoops to jump through.

We remove shame and stigma. Everyone is welcomed with dignity.

We make access real. Choice‑based shopping, flexible hours, culturally relevant foods, and a warm, respectful environment.

When people feel safe, they show up.

And they should — because food is a basic human need, not something you have to earn.

We stand with our neighbors.

Food insecurity is not a personal failure. It’s a systemic issue affecting families across every town, every background, every age.

At SOFB, we’re here to lighten the grocery bill, to make sure no one has to skip their medicine just to eat, and to ensure every family goes to bed with a full belly — and without the fear of where breakfast will come from.

If you or someone you know is facing these choices, please reach out.

You’re not alone. We’re here, and we’re in this together