Hunger Action Month: Understanding the Structural Dynamics of Hunger

September marks Hunger Action Month, a nationwide movement led by Feeding America, because more than 47 million Americans face hunger, including 14 million or 1 in 5 children.

As we reflect on the meaning behind Hunger Action Month, it is important to look beyond the image of an empty refrigerator or a missed meal and confront the reality that food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to nutritious food, is a crisis for almost 14% of the U.S. population. This grim reality is tied to structural issues that affect a person’s overall health and well-being.

Understanding Social Determinants of Health and Systemic Barriers

Hunger intersects with a range of other critical factors. It is closely linked to economic stability, community resources, education access, transportation, utilities, healthcare access, and more. These interconnected factors are part of what are known as social determinants of health (SDoH), non-medical influences that significantly impact health outcomes.

SDoH play a major role in health disparities and overall quality of life. Each factor can influence a person’s ability to access and afford nutritious food. In turn, a lack of access to healthy food can negatively impact an individual’s health and well-being. 

Because of this interconnectedness, the cycle of poor health outcomes and increased need for healthcare services is perpetuated. Therefore, when we view hunger and food insecurity through the lens of SDoH, we can shift blame away from individuals and start examining structural barriers such as intergenerational poverty, the cycle of poverty passed down from one generation to the next. This is one well-documented structural barrier deeply intertwined with food insecurity. 

Other structural barriers that can impact food insecurity include the following:

• Economic policies and realities: Low wages, unpredictable work schedules, and lack of employment opportunities, especially in rural or disinvested areas.
• Transportation: Lack of reliable public transportation and long distances to grocery stores.
• Housing: Unaffordable or unstable housing that forces families to spend disproportionate income on rent.
• Legal: Criminal justice policies that create barriers to employment and housing; and restrictive eligibility for social safety net programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and WIC, the program for women, infants and children.
• Infrastructure: Limited internet access that, in turn, affects job searching and access to education, training, and certification programs.

Such structural barriers reinforce one another in a persistent cycle that prevents dependable and affordable access to food. As studies show, these barriers have long-term consequences, especially for children whose physical and cognitive development may suffer as a result. Additionally, these barriers disproportionately affect marginalized communities by making it even more difficult to escape poverty and achieve food security. As a result, poverty can become even more entrenched and lead to food insecurity that persists as both a symptom and a cause of that poverty.

Food Insecurity in Greater Cleveland and Across Ohio

Ohio is about to experience a dramatic change in public food assistance as massive cuts to SNAP were approved in the federal budget signed into law on July 4, 2025. Because of these cuts, Ohio will be responsible for approximately $400 million annually to maintain the current benefits. Nearly 1.5 million Ohio residents rely on SNAP, and as many as 230,000 individuals could lose some or all benefits due to tighter eligibility rules and work requirements.

This loss of assistance is expected to increase demand on already strained food banks and negatively impact the state’s economy. These conditions will potentially reduce Ohio’s GDP by $5.2 billion. State and local tax revenues are expected to decrease by $3.66 billion by 2029.

Cleveland already feels the impact as 1 in 6 residents currently experiences food insecurity. Continuing to face systemic issues such as poverty and lack of access to jobs, exacerbating the food crisis, means that 40% of Cleveland households are already classified as food insecure.

The following statistics provided through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank quantify this crisis:

• 424,800 unique individuals are served by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and their 1,085 partners across the six-county service area of Northeast Ohio.
• Nearly 25% of these individuals sought food assistance for the first time in 2024.
• 121,000 unique children were served.
• 96,200 unique senior citizens served.
• 32% of the population of Northeast Ohio is eligible for food assistance at 200% or below the federal poverty guideline.
• 46% of households served include a member who struggles with chronic health conditions.

These numbers are more than just statistics. They represent neighbors, friends, and seniors struggling to put meals on the table every day. Food insecurity in Northeast Ohio and across the U.S. is a pressing and deeply personal reality for millions. As federal support shrinks and more families face hardships, food banks are stretched thinner than ever.

Partnerships Driving Change in Cleveland, Ohio

Throughout Hunger Action Month, local leaders, food banks, nonprofits, and others are working together to host events, inspire communities, raise awareness, and advocate for systemic change. For example, through the SDoH Innovation Hub, WellLink is working with nearly 80 other entities to improve health outcomes, educating individuals on the realities of food scarcity, and fighting poverty at the structural level.

With a growing network of partners, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank built the community food distribution center to address a crisis that affects so many in Northeast Ohio. At this center, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, WellLink, and Catholic Charities are hosting an immersive event, Lived-Experience Exercise: A Transformative Encounter with Poverty, on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 1 - 5 p.m., at 13815 Coit Rd., Cleveland.  

This event will immerse participants in the everyday realities faced by individuals and families living with poverty and food insecurity including navigating a series of day-to-day challenges such as applying for food stamps, enrolling in Medicaid, securing housing, accessing transportation, and seeking behavioral health support. It is free to attend and open to all. We hope you will join us. You can learn more about the experience and register here.

Where We Go From Here: Uniting to End Food Insecurity

Today, Northeast Ohio stands at a crossroads. While our spirit of cooperation and commitment to serving our neighbors has never been stronger, many of our neighbors are vulnerable due to funding cuts and the rising need for food assistance.

At a time when food insecurity across the U.S. is at the highest rate in over a decade, the need for action is undeniable and urgent. To address this reality, we must first acknowledge it. Then, we must work with other organizations to pose solutions that address structural causes of hunger and food insecurity.  

What can you do? You can contact Ohio state representatives and encourage them to support policy reform that ensures vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food and the tools and support they need to achieve long-term success and a healthy future.

At the same time, immediate needs of those who are food insecure must be fulfilled. To do this, we encourage you to donate and volunteer, and ask that you encourage others to do the same. This action is a great way to support your neighbors and local food banks.

Over the long-term, tackling food insecurity demands a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond short-term food aid. Advocating for strengthening economic opportunities, expanded access to quality education, and equitable pathways to consistent employment are structural barriers to address in Northeast Ohio, the state, and the nation.

Ending hunger in Northeast Ohio and beyond requires bold ideas, compassionate action, and relentless commitment to our shared mission. When we choose to act together, our voices are amplified, turning advocacy into tangible, lasting change. WellLink and other organizations, working through the SDoH Innovation Hub, are committed to driving needed solutions. 

To learn more about the work of the SDoH Innovation Hub and about food insecurity in Cleveland, visit the SDoH Innovation Hub  and greaterclevelandfoodbank.org, and sign up here to participate in the Lived Experience program.