RICHMOND, VA (September 21, 2026) — Hunger is affecting Virginians at extremely high rates, according to the results of the inaugural Virginia Hunger Study released today.
The statewide survey finds that 42% of Virginia households were food insecure – defined as any member of a household lacking consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life – at some point between May 2025 and May 2026.
Rates are even higher among households with children: 51% of families with kids were food insecure.
The Virginia Hunger Study includes interviews with over 5,600 Virginians and was commissioned through a partnership between the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and No Kid Hungry Virginia. The survey was conducted by the independent nonpartisan research organization NORC at the University of Chicago with support from researchers at Virginia Tech.
The study represents the first statewide, Virginia-only survey to measure food insecurity using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) standard 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module, a nationally recognized method for assessing hunger rates. In 2025, the USDA ended its annual state-level food insecurity estimates, which had been published for nearly three decades.
“The survey findings reflect that hunger is an urgent and growing threat for too many Virginians,” said Eddie Oliver, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. “The charitable food system is doing everything it can to meet growing demand amid higher food prices and declining donations, but we can’t do it alone. As families face cuts to SNAP and Medicaid alongside rising costs, this data underscores the need for a comprehensive public-private response to ensure every Virginian has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.”
The Virginia Hunger Study is being released as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation has declined by more than 130,000 people in Virginia since the enactment of H.R. 1 in July 2025.
“The latest food insecurity numbers are alarming and heartbreaking,” said Sarah Steely, director of No Kid Hungry Virginia. “These are our neighbors who are skipping meals or making difficult trade-offs to pay for housing, healthcare and transportation costs. Congress passed the largest and most damaging cuts to SNAP in the program’s history last year. These cuts, plus high grocery prices and other budget pressures, mean that parents living on low incomes are having to make tough decisions about which basic needs to prioritize and which expenses must be delayed or sacrificed.”
Survey results point to multiple drivers of the high food insecurity rates. Inflation has had a severe impact on food-insecure households’ budgets, with 87% saying that higher than usual prices for groceries and food are causing major strain, compared with 42% of food-secure adults.
Rural areas experienced the highest rates in the state, though fewer Virginians live in these areas. Additionally, Black and Hispanic Virginians experienced food insecurity at roughly twice the rate of their white neighbors.
Prevalence rates vary throughout the state, with Southwest Virginia seeing the highest levels at 55%. However, even in Northern Virginia, the area with the lowest rates, nearly one in three households (32%) had experienced food insecurity during the year. And in a state with an unusually large federal workforce, one-third of Virginians said the 2025 government shutdown had a negative financial impact on their household.
“Every Virginian deserves access to the food they need to live, work and thrive, yet too many families across the Commonwealth are struggling to put food on the table,” said VDSS Commissioner Duke Storen. “At a time when federal policy changes are reshaping access to nutrition assistance, this study underscores what is at stake. Behind these numbers are real people and families working toward greater stability. The Spanberger Administration remains committed to leveraging every available pathway and partnership to strengthen food security across the Commonwealth.”
Food insecurity can also make it harder to manage and afford care for diet-sensitive health conditions, creating a cycle between food insecurity and poor health. Three out of four food-insecure adults (76%) have been diagnosed with one or more chronic conditions, and three in five (60%) have visited an emergency room or urgent care facility at least once in the past year.
The survey also showed that only 27% of food-insecure households in Virginia are enrolled in SNAP. While some are ineligible based on income, others face barriers such as stigma, lack of awareness and perceived administrative burdens. The charitable food system, including a network of more than 1,100 neighborhood food pantries, is acting as a significant buffer to food insecurity. Half of households facing hunger accessed charitable food.
Added Storen: “No Virginian should go hungry – ever. Every organization and every person has a strength to share, and this study is our call to action. VDSS will work shoulder to shoulder with local departments, food security partners, schools, clinics, businesses and faith communities to reduce barriers, boost SNAP enrollment and make sure families can count on consistent access to healthy food. Together, we can – and we will – help Virginians meet their food needs and thrive.”