HOUSTON – For families struggling to keep food on the table, the problem often goes beyond the grocery bill.
Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, says understanding the root causes of food insecurity is key to finding longer-term solutions for families facing the rising cost of living.
“It’s important to recognize that food insecurity isn’t really about food, it’s actually income,” Greene said.
For a low-income household, food may account for about 20% of overall expenses, while housing can make up closer to 40%, Greene said. When a household’s income falls short, food often becomes one of the expenses families can adjust most quickly, making hunger one of the most visible signs of a broader financial strain.
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MORE WORKING FAMILIES ARE SEEKING HELP:
Greene said the people relying on food banks have changed since he began working in the nonprofit sector in the 1980s.
“When I started doing this work literally back in the 80s, most of the people that we serve were unemployed,” Greene said. “Now, most of the people that food banks serve are working households.”
Greene said lower-income households are seeing their wages fail to keep pace with rising costs, making income one of the biggest drivers of food insecurity.
Ultimately, he said, the goal should be to help families earn enough income so that they no longer need food assistance.
“We can provide assistance because there’s actually so much surplus food that we can provide through the network of pantries,” Greene said. “But ultimately, it’s about households having enough income not to need us. That’s the direction of solution as a society.”
WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO?
For individual families, Greene pointed to job training as one potential pathway toward greater financial stability.
He encouraged people to look into “middle skills” training programs offered through community colleges. Those programs can provide workers with skills for jobs that may lead to higher incomes and reduce the likelihood of needing food assistance, he said.
But Greene acknowledged that individual training programs alone will not solve the larger problem.
“As a society, we have to recognize that that’s not going to be enough,” he said. “The size of the problem and our long-term prospects, it’s likely to get worse. We have to be thinking about how do we look at the economy as a whole.”
WHERE FAMILIES CAN TURN FOR HELP:
While long-term solutions remain a goal, food assistance can help families bridge immediate financial gaps.
Greene said the Houston Food Bank works with hundreds of food pantries and other organizations throughout the region. Families looking for assistance can visit HoustonFoodBank.org and use the food-finder tool by entering their ZIP code to find nearby resources, including information about hours and available services.
Families can also call United Way 211 for help finding food assistance and other cost-of-living resources.
Greene stressed that food assistance is meant to provide support during difficult periods, rather than replace the income a household needs to become financially stable.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE?
Greene said one misconception is that certain groups, including college students, may not qualify for help.
“If you are in need of food assistance, we want to help you,” he said.
The Houston Food Bank also provides fresh produce through its network of food assistance programs. Greene said nearly half of the organization’s food distribution is now fresh produce, with a goal of increasing that share.
The idea, he said, is to provide families with ongoing assistance that helps stretch their household budgets rather than simply providing enough food for a few days.
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES:
Greene said addressing food insecurity ultimately requires looking beyond food itself.
He pointed to medical costs and the number of uninsured Texans as one factor that can contribute to financial instability. Unexpected health expenses can put additional pressure on households already struggling to cover basic costs.
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