What does it really mean to be food secure in Kansas? A new report commissioned by the Kansas Health Foundation and prepared by the Kansas Health Institute takes a deep dive into this question—and the findings are both urgent and illuminating.
The Hunger Free Kansas: Environmental Scan of Secondary Data is a comprehensive analysis of food insecurity, access, and equity across the state. By examining a range of data across demographics, nutrition, food access infrastructure, and economic opportunity, the report paints a detailed picture of the barriers Kansans face in achieving not just food sufficiency, but nutrition security—a term that includes stable, equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods.
Among the most staggering findings:
- Nearly 1 in 4 Black Kansans (24%) and nearly 1 in 5 Hispanic Kansans (19.9%) experience food insecurity.
- Over 1 in 10 children in Kansas (13.4%) face food insecurity, with many Southeast counties exceeding 15%.
- 43% of Kansas renters live in housing considered unaffordable.
- 55.9% of children under age 6 with working parents lack available childcare openings, increasing the strain on families.
The report also highlights geographic disparities, revealing that nearly 2 in 5 census tracts in South Central and Southeast Kansas qualify as low-income, low-access areas—commonly referred to as “food deserts.”
These insights are critical for policymakers, community advocates, and organizations like SENT Inc. as we continue our work addressing poverty and supporting families with wraparound services that include access to nutritious food, healthcare, mental health therapy, and housing stability.
This report underscores what many in our community already know: food insecurity is deeply connected to broader social and economic systems. Solving it requires collaborative, equity-centered solutions rooted in data—and in compassion.
Read the full report here: 2025 Hunger Free Kansas Report – Executive Summary