Advocacy Groups Urge Florida Legislature to Address State’s Food Insecurity Crisis With $259 Million in Federal Summer EBT Funds

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Food insecurity numbers reach an all-time high as the economic pressures of disaster recovery, housing costs and health care compound the issue.  

MIAMI, FL — Today, a coalition of advocacy organizations, community leaders and impacted families, including UnidosUS, No Kid Hungry, Florida Impact, Hispanic Services Council and Florida Policy Institute, called on the Florida legislature to take immediate action and submit a plan to receive $259 million in federal Summer EBT funds before the looming February 15, 2025 deadline. 

Currently, Florida ranks among the worst states in the nation for food insecurity, with 20% of children living in food-insecure households. Latino and Black families are disproportionately affected, with 32% of food-insecure children in Florida being Latino. 

“Florida families are at a breaking point,” said UnidosUS Florida State Director Jared Nordlund. “Food insecurity, disaster recovery, skyrocketing housing costs and rising health care expenses are making it harder than ever for parents to provide for their children. By securing these federal funds, we can offer immediate relief to families that will make a real and positive impact on Florida’s future.” 

Advocates and organizations have emphasized the importance of Summer EBT as a lifeline for low-income families, pushing for its continued funding and expansion to ensure that no child goes hungry during the summer months. In addition to reducing hunger, the federal Summer EBT funds would bring significant economic benefits to Florida.   

“Summer is the hungriest time of the year when many children lose access to the consistent, nutritious meals they receive at school,” said Sky Beard, director of No Kid Hungry Florida. “We hope another summer doesn’t go by with Florida turning its back on more than $259 million federal dollars that could go directly into families’ pockets to spend at local grocery stores and businesses across the state. Not only does this impact 2.1 million children in our state but it also disregards the economic boost this would have provided many hardworking families.”  

Compounding Florida’s food insecurity crisis are severe economic challenges, including: 

  • Disaster Relief: Hundreds of thousands of Floridians still suffer the impacts of the country’s deadliest hurricane season in two decades.  
  • Housing costs: Rents have surged by 12% in the past year, with 35% of renters spending more than half their income on housing. 
  • Health care expenses: Low-income families spend nearly 20% of their household budgets on medical care, forcing trade-offs with food and other essentials. 
  • Low wages: Over half of Florida’s jobs pay less than $15/hour, leaving families struggling to cover basic expenses. 

“Florida’s families are being squeezed from every angle,” said Nordlund. “We must act now to prevent further harm to children and communities.” 

Established in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the Summer EBT program has proven to be highly effective in reducing food insecurity among children by approximately 30%. The program has also demonstrated positive health outcomes, as families could purchase nutritious foods they might otherwise struggle to afford. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, programs like Summer EBT and its counterpart, Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), were expanded to meet the increased need. These programs were crucial in reducing food insecurity by 9% when schools were closed or operating remotely. Reports also show that every $1 in EBT benefits generates $1.50 to $1.80 in economic activity, meaning these funds could inject an estimated $388 million into the state’s economy through local grocers, retailers, and farmers’ markets.