(Image Credit: IMAGN) Kindergarten children make their way through the food bar at Holt Elementary School in Eugene.
San Diego, California – The number of San Diego County residents living without reliable access to nutritious meals has climbed to levels not seen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new findings released Wednesday by the San Diego Hunger Coalition.
The coalition, which measures what it calls “nutrition insecurity,” defines the crisis as a lack of access to three nutritious meals a day. By analyzing U.S. Department of Agriculture data and local cost-of-living indicators, researchers have found that over a quarter of county residents—approximately 26 percent—now face food insecurity.
“We have not seen numbers like this since 2020,” said Joseph Kendrick, Research Manager at the San Diego Hunger Coalition. “Food should be considered a basic right, and a lot of people in this community are hungry.”
While the early months of the pandemic saw a spike in federal food assistance and local aid, subsequent years have seen steady funding cuts—particularly to programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program from the USDA. Combined with rising food and housing costs, these cuts have driven many families and individuals back into crisis.
Kendrick warned that the long-term consequences of poor nutrition could be severe, especially for children. “It affects the way they grow and develop,” he said. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes are also more likely among adults without stable access to nutritious food.
Organizations like Feeding San Diego are already feeling the impact. Between April and May, over 20,000 households sought assistance through their food distribution events. Meanwhile, local leaders are attempting to stabilize the safety net. On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved $750,000 in grants aimed at bolstering food access, including $500,000 for the San Diego Food Bank and $250,000 to support the SunCoast Market Co-Op in Imperial Beach.
Supervisors Joel Anderson and Monica Montgomery Steppe, who introduced the measure, framed it as both an emergency response and a step toward equity. “When families are forced to choose between groceries, rent and medication, our system is broken,” Montgomery Steppe said. “This reflects our commitment to reversing long-standing inequities.”
The Food Bank, which serves over 400,000 residents each month, has lost more than 1.8 million pounds of food due to federal cuts. Officials at the Food Bank expect the new funding to help fill that gap with staples like milk and eggs.
But Kendrick emphasized that stopgaps won’t be enough. “In the long term, this is about wages,” he said. “Without a living wage, assistance will always be necessary.”
