The Index’s 2024 findings reveal unsettling trends, with steep increases in food security between 2023 and 2024, also reveal clear disparities by geographic area, ethnicity, gender, households with children, households with people with a disability as well as  elderly residents.

Panelists reflected on the role of pandemic-era policies, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit and SNAP benefits, in reducing food insecurity and poverty. However, the expiration of these programs has left many households struggling amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty.

The panel discussion underscored the belief that food should be a right, not a privilege, and highlighted how food insecurity intersects with other social determinants of health like economic stability, housing, transportation, neighborhood conditions and access to healthcare. Addressing these factors is essential to breaking the cycle of disadvantage and reducing health disparities.

Key solutions discussed included:

• Expand SNAP access and implement universal free school meal programs in Rhode Island.
• Streamline the application processes for federal nutrition programs to improve accessibility.
• Engage community health workers to connect potential participants to existing programs.
• Support local food systems to promote food sovereignty and justice.
• Build on community-led efforts such as Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones and Food Access Working Group and support the efforts of community organizations such as the Rhode Island Food Bank and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, among many others.

Panelists also stressed the importance of engaging those with lived experience in designing programs and policies to ensure they are effective and equitable.

The RI Life Index 2024 launch highlighted the urgent need for collaborative, multi-level efforts to combat food insecurity and its root causes in Rhode Island.

Learn more about the RI Life Index findings and the panel discussion here.