Understanding Poverty

Houston is a thriving city, yet many of its residents face significant economic hardships. As of 2023, the poverty rate in Harris County stands at 16%, with nearly 924,000 residents in the Houston area living below the poverty line (Understanding Houston, 2023). Additionally, between 2019 and 2023, the median household income in Houston was $62,894, while 19.7% of residents lived in poverty (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). These statistics highlight the economic struggles that many families endure daily.

Food insecurity is a pressing issue that disproportionately affects children and low-income households. In 2022, over 350,000 children—23% of all children in Houston’s three-county region—experienced food insecurity (Understanding Houston, 2022). More broadly, more than one million individuals in the Houston Food Bank’s service area lack consistent access to nutritious food (Houston Food Bank, 2023). Statewide, Texas faces a food insecurity rate of 16.4%, meaning approximately 4.6 million people, including 1.7 million families, struggle to afford healthy meals (Axios, 2024; Houston Chronicle, 2024). Alarmingly, nearly one in four children in Texas face hunger, which can have lasting effects on their health, development, and academic performance (Feeding Texas, 2024).