Food Insecurity

In robust, growing cities like Charlotte, food insecurity reflects an affordability crisis that often overlaps with neighborhoods experiencing poverty and decades of underinvestment. Some of our neighbors must choose between food and other essentials like rent, childcare or healthcare.

Food insecurity didn’t happen overnight in Mecklenburg County; it is closely tied to economic growth, racial inequality and urban development. Food insecurity is heavily concentrated in the city’s “crescent” communities: neighborhoods surrounding uptown to the west, north and east, where income levels are lower, and the majority of residents tend to be Black and Latino. 

Transportation barriers complicate the issue, and many of these areas are considered food deserts, where residents rely on convenience stores and fast food because access to full-service grocery stores can be limited.

In Charlotte, the drivers of food insecurity are linked to stagnant/low wages, rising housing costs, and higher food prices. It is not just a poverty issue, it is a cost of living issue that impacts working class families as well.

We have responded with a mix of nonprofit, public, and grassroots efforts – from food banks, food pantries, and meal programs to local food initiatives and SNAP expansion. But like many fast-growing cities, demand continues to outpace supply.