Boston Council Hears Warnings of Growing Food Insecurity Amid Federal Funding Threats

BOSTON — March 30, 2026 — Boston City Council committee hears rising food insecurity data as federal program threats mount. At-Large Councillor Erin Murphy chaired a Monday hearing of the Committee on Human Services on Docket 0179, joined by lead sponsor District Councillor Ed Flynn and councillors Ruthzee Louijeune, Tania Mejia, and Brian Culpepper. Data from the Boston Public Health Commission's 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment showed 22.7 percent of Boston residents in 2023 reported buying food that ran out with no money to get more. Boston Public Schools served 8.4 million meals last year at no cost; the Mayor's Office of Food Justice's Double Up Food Bucks Program has directed nearly $2 million in fresh produce sales to six independent grocers since its inception — but the federal grant funding it expires in June 2026. Women's Lunch Place CEO Jennifer Hanlon-Wiggin told the committee that her organization served more than 165,000 meals to more than 2,300 women last year, is "definitely over capacity," and is seeking city budget support for its 65-bed overnight shelter, from which more than 30 women have been placed into permanent housing. Councillor Culpepper described church food pantry boxes disappearing within two hours as demand has surged since COVID, and the city acknowledged a statewide gap of approximately 440,000 SNAP-eligible Massachusetts residents who are not enrolled.