Community Services Block Grant Freedom from Hunger Programs to Mitigate Food Insecurity for Low Income Households Across America

When we were in elementary school, my sisters and I used to each get a grocery bag of food from our teachers on Fridays. This was a lifeline for my family, so I know personally how vital our work is, and I could not be more proud of the CSBG Network for their immense efforts to help ensure the children, individuals, families, and communities we serve have freedom from hunger.
— Dr. Lanikque Howard, Director of the Office of Community Services

The Need

In 2021, 33.8 million people in the United States were food insecure. Food insecurity — the lack of access to sufficient food due to limited financial resources — has devastating consequences for health, social, economic, and educational outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has created many additional barriers to food access and affordability for households across the country. The prevalence and persistence of food insecurity, particularly amidst pandemic-related access and affordability challenges, demands additional and innovative supports and services to ensure vulnerable households have consistent access to food.

Working to Ensure Freedom from Hunger

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) supports pathways out of poverty, including services designed to ameliorate the causes and conditions of poverty by assisting individuals and families with low incomes and underserved communities with services based on local needs (i.e., food, employment, education, and adequate housing). The social and support services funded by CSBG are administered by 66 tribes and over 1,000 CSBG-eligible entities, commonly referred to as Community Action Agencies (CAAs). The CAAs work in close partnership with CSBG state and territory lead agencies and CSBG state associations. CSBG funding has supported the development and implementation of multiple innovative anti-hunger programs. These programs advance promising innovations in combating food insecurity by ensuring equitable access to healthy food through grocery giveaways, nutrition education, cooking classes, meal programs, food banks and food pantries, community gardens, hydroponic farming training programs, partnerships with local farmers, and other new programs and partnerships.

CSBG’s Freedom from Hunger Case Studies

In July 2022, the Office of Community Services (OCS) reviewed innovative CSBG anti-hunger programs across the country. OCS’ Freedom from Hunger case studies highlight programs with demonstrated success and are examples of approaches that OCS encourages CAAs across the country to implement and develop to meet hunger needs in their communities.

To view the entire overview, click Freedom from Hunger Overview (PDF).