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Feeding Texas data shows a continued increase in food insecurity across the state that may potentially get worse as the government prepares to implement new cost-share requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Food insecurity is a term referring to a household that lacks enough money or resources to reliably access adequate food, which has an overall impact on a person’s health, according to the organization.

In their 2026 Map the Meal Gap report, which included data from 2024, they found that 19.4% of Texans or about 1 in 5 people are experiencing food insecurity — this is up by nearly 2% from last year which saw 17.6% or 1 in 6 people with food insecurity.

Additionally, the study found that 26.1% or 1 in 4 of children in Texas are experiencing food insecurity seeing nearly a 4% increase from last year’s 22.2%.

According to Celia Cole, chief executive officer of Feeding Texas, this data indicates that close to 2 million kids in Texas are facing food insecurity.

It has also continued to increase among senior citizens with 1 in 7 or 15.1% of seniors experiencing food insecurity.

Among white, non-Hispanic residents food insecurity has increased from 11% to 12% while food insecurity among Black residents has increased from 31% to 34%.

For Cole, this year’s data emphasizes that need in Texas, which continues to have the largest food insecure population in the county and is continuing to grow.

“… Food insecurity continues to affect our neighbors across every demographic and geography in Texas, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, including children and seniors,” Cole said. “While we continue growing our work to get nutritious food to families, this report reinforces the urgent need for strong public policy, community support, and partnerships that protect and increase food access for Texans.”

Feeding Texas has 20 food banks that collectively serve every county throughout the state alongside “thousands and thousands” of local partners.

However, with the increasing need across Texas, food banks and community meal programs are beginning to feel strained as food and fuel costs continue to rise.

An organization news release reports that the findings are “echoed by recent 211 Texas data from United Ways of Texas.” 

“From February to June 2026, calls to 211 seeking food assistance increased 28.6%, while referrals to food banks and food pantries rose nearly 37%, from 4,230 to 5,785 referrals,” the release stated. “Among those seeking food assistance between January and June 2026, 43% were adults age 50 and older. During the same period, requests for home-delivered meals increased about 23%, growing from 510 to 629 requests.

Cole added that the strain is spreading across all support systems.

“Food banks are worried about getting enough food in and out the door, they’re worried about rising food and fuel costs themselves because it’s making it more expensive to do business,” Cole said.

Although similar circumstances were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic where many people were losing their jobs and struggling to put food on the table or pay for basic necessities, Cole explained there is a major difference from then to now.

During the pandemic there was an increase in government support for private charity, for food banks but also assistance for people through increased SNAP benefits, stimulus checks and delays to things like foreclosures and evictions.

However, as the public health crisis wound down much of that additional support for both the food banks and people were removed, leaving many to rely on other means of support — this is when Feeding Texas saw the numbers beginning to increase.

With the removal of additional support and the current persistently high prices on food, gas and other necessities have caused tough economic times for many residents across the state.

Despite the increase in need however, Cole noted there has been a decline in SNAP enrollment, which she believes is cause for concern.

She attributes the decrease to changes brought by HR 1 or “The One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was passed last year and made direct cuts to SNAP, reduced eligibility for refugees and asylees, and subject more people to work requirements including adults 60 to 64 years old who were previously exempt.

“What we’re seeing kind of on the ground is that people are struggling to make it through the process of even signing up to meet the work requirements and are potentially losing access even when they still have need,” Cole said. “So that’s our big concern is that people are struggling to meet those new work requirements, not because they don’t want to work.”

She added that heightened immigration enforcement and policy changes related to immigration has also driven people away from enrolling due to fear.

Now as the fiscal year comes to an end, Cole explained that adds another potential problem to the mix.

Among the provisions in HR 1 is a change in the cost-share for SNAP, which will not shift a majority of the cost to states depending on their error rate, which measures how accurately states are issuing benefits.

Cole clarified that it is not a measure of fraud but rather a measure of the mistakes made by case workers or participants.

Prior to the passing of the bill, SNAP benefits were 100% federally funded while states funded its operations.

Now states are subjected to a state-matching fund requirement based on the error rate of each state beginning fiscal year 2028.

Any state that has a payment error rate of less than 6% does not have to contribute to the cost.

However, states with an error rate of at least 6% but less than 8% will have to contribute 5% while states with at least 8% but less than 10% must contribute 10%, and states with a 10% or greater error rate must contribute 15%.

“Texas is currently at about a little over 9% error rate which means the state can be looking at 10% cost share, which would mean another $700 million a year the state would have to add to its budget to keep SNAP,” Cole said. “That’s not a cost the state has ever had to bear.”

Cole explained she fears the cost-share will cause strain on the state’s budget, which may lead the state to look for ways to reduce access to SNAP.

Although an unlikely scenario, Cole explained that if Texas were to walk away from the program and simply not pay for it, that would result in over 3 million Texans losing access to critical food assistance as well as the significant economical boost provided by SNAP.

Cole believes the state can manage to get below the 6% target but they were not given enough time to make the necessary changes.

Since the bill was passed just last year, in July 2025, the current fiscal year will be used to judge a states’ error rate, meaning Texas can be penalized as early as 2028.

Although she does not argue that states should be held accountable for how they run the program, she believes more time should be given to all states.

When the bill was passed states like Alaska and Georgia with higher error rates were given a two-year extension. The organization is asking that Texas be given the same extension.

“I think pushing for a delay in the cost-share would give states time to put in place the measures they need to hit those targets without undermining the focus on program integrity and payment accuracy, all those other things that are worthy goals,” Cole said.