A Vision and Strategy to End Food Insecurity in Connecticut

Christian Duborg – Food & Nutrition Policy Analyst

Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity

What We’ll Cover Today

What’s Changed in the Food System Lately

Communicating the Need: Myth Busting and Storytelling

The CWCSEO Proposed Solutions

Conclusion

The Good News

Source: CT Insider

The Good News: 1-Time Emergency Fund Disbursements (FYs 26 and 27)

Emergency Food System: $26.1 Million

Navigating SNAP Changes: $19.64 Million

$24.55 million for “the statewide network of community food banks and pantries to increase their capacity to serve residents impacted by the eligibility changes in SNAP”

$1.55 million for a CT LFPA “program for the purchase of Connecticut Grown farm products to distribute to food-insecure populations”

$4.7 million for 2-1-1 and Community Action Agencies to “support community outreach and assistance for SNAP recipients in understanding and meeting new eligibility requirements”

$1.54 million for DSS to “help Medicaid and SNAP clients meet new eligibility rules.”

$2 million for community health workers to help residents “understand and navigate changes to SNAP and Medicaid eligibility”

$11.4 million for DSS to conduct system upgrades to “implement the eligibility changes” to SNAP and Medicaid”

The Bad News: Food Price Increases Over Time (USDA)

9.9% (2022)

*highest since 1979

5.8% (2023)

2.3% (2024)

2.9% (2025)

3.6% (2026)

*Projected as of Marchx

The Bad News: CT SNAP Participation Trends Over Time

SNAP Participation in Connecticut over 2025

• 11% Decline in Recipients

​

• 41,845 fewer recipients in December than in January

​

• Over 10,000 residents lost access just in November

​

• Estimated de-facto federal cut of $72 million per year

​

The Bad News: CT Local Food Spending

Key 24-25 Food Policy Recommendations

Establish Universal Free School Meals

Mitigate Benefits Cliffs

Establish a State Minimum SNAP Benefit Amount

Apply for Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver for Food as Medicine Initiatives

Create or Expand Regional Community Food Hubs

Establish a State Food Business Incubator Program

Double SNAP Benefits for Connecticut-Grown Produce

Fund Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) Programs at the State Level

Expand Support for the Food Systems Capacity Building Grant

Partner with Research Institutions to Fill Gaps in the Current Data

Bottom Line

While some datapoints get a little better (state spending) and some get a little worse (SNAP participation, food prices), the central dynamics of food insecurity in Connecticut aren’t meaningfully changing:

1. Prices go up, net government support goes down
2. Food insecurity keeps getting more widespread
3. Connecticut continues to lag behind other states in actions and outcomes

New Year, New Numbers, Same Story

Draft for Community Feedback Only - Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity

DataHaven Food Insecurity Trends Over Time

What We’ll Cover Today

What’s Changed in the Food System Lately

Communicating the Need: Myth Busting and Storytelling

The CWCSEO Proposed Solutions

Conclusion

(Some of) The Myths Around of Food Insecurity

Everyone who needs help gets help

Food insecurity is only a problem during times of crisis

Food insecurity can be solved through food banks alone

Food insecurity’s only impact is hunger

This is a federal problem/Connecticut is doing all it can

Food insecurity only impacts households facing unemployment or poverty

Food insecurity only impacts those experiencing it

MYTH: “Everyone who needs help gets help”

Source: Feeding America Map the Meal Gap

MYTH: “Food insecurity only impacts households facing unemployment or poverty”

Source: United Way of Connecticut

MYTH: “Food insecurity only impacts those experiencing it”

Similar Analysis Hasn’t Necessarily Happened in Connecticut

MYTH:“Food Insecurity Can Be Solved Through Food Banks Alone”

Source: CT Foodshare (via CT Mirror)

(Some of) The Impacts of Food Insecurity

Worse Physical and Mental Health Outcomes

Worse Education Outcomes for Children

Increased Risk of Housing Insecurity

Increased Risk of Premature Death

Increased Financial Costs to Individuals and the State (ex. $1800 per person per year in excess medical costs)

MYTH: “Food insecurity’s only impact is hunger”

Source: CWCSEO

MYTH:“Food insecurity’s only impact is hunger”

Source: Maine’s Roadmap to End Hunger

MYTH: “Connecticut is doing all it can”

FY 26 Spending Estimates CT

“Core Food Security” (10 items)

$20,102,128

“Broader Food System” (11 items)

$31,919,022

“Food Security Organization Earmarks” (30 items)

$2,418,500

Total (51 items)

$54,439,650

3 Major Policies in Other Northeast States

Massachusetts (HIP, School Meals, Emergency Food)

~$250,000,000

~$128,000,000 (CT adjusted)

New York (School Meals, Emergency Food (HPNAP and Nourish NY)

~$368,000,000

~$68,000,000 (CT adjusted)

New Jersey (State Minimum SNAP Benefit, Food Desert Relief, Emergency Food)

~$155,000,000

~$60,000,000 (CT adjusted)

Vermont (School Meals, Local Food for Schools, Emergency Food)

~$18,500,000

~$104,000,000 (CT adjusted)

MYTH: “Connecticut is doing all it can”

MYTH: “Food insecurity is only a problem during times of crisis”

Source: CT Mirror

Bottom Line

Food insecurity is an urgent, sweeping challenge that needs to be both prioritized and addressed with serious effort, neither of which is the case in Connecticut right now. While each detailed policy option has advantages and drawbacks, none have worse drawbacks than doing nothing and letting this crisis to keep spiraling out of control.

Centering lived experience (and complementing with data) is critically important in communicating this bottom-line

What We’ll Cover Today

What’s Changed in the Food System Lately

Communicating the Need: Myth Busting and Storytelling

The CWCSEO Proposed Solutions

Conclusion

Connecticut Should Create a Strategic Plan to End Food Insecurity

Connecticut Should Create a Strategic Plan to End Food Insecurity

Food Insecurity Should Get a Priority Bill

Food Insecurity Should Get a Priority Bill

What We’ll Cover Today

What’s Changed in the Food System Lately

Communicating the Need: Myth Busting and Storytelling

The CWCSEO Proposed Solutions

Conclusion

Lasswell’s Policy Science Stages (1957)

Elected Officials

State Agencies

Researchers

Everyone

1. Setting the Agenda (acknowledging the problem)

2. Policy Formulation (proposal of solutions)

3.Decision-Marking (choosing solutions)

4. Policy implementation (executing solutions)

5. Policy Evaluation (measuring impacts)

Questions for Everyone

1. What can we do to dispel the myths we’ve discussed around food insecurity and communicate the need to the public?
2. What should be included in a Statewide Food Insecurity Strategy
3. What should be included in the Food Insecurity Priority Bill?
4. What (and who) missing?

Complete a 5-minute survey

Share Your Feedback (and Stories)!