food insecurity

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury paid a visit to the University of New Mexico’s Lobo Food Pantry Thursday afternoon, as part of a larger tour of food banks around her district. She’s been speaking with staff, touring facilities and finding out what they most need. According to the latest basic needs assessment, 58% of UNM students experience some sort of food insecurity.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico we’re discussing all things food insecurity in New Mexico, including the overarching causes and necessary changes.

A list of resources around New Mexico for those who need assistance in the wake of the ongoing government shutdown and disruption in SNAP benefits.

New Mexico’s federal lawmakers are pushing bills aimed at bankrolling food assistance, which is set to stop Saturday amidst the ongoing government shutdown. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, both Democrats, are sponsoring bills aimed at stopping that, and said both the money and the votes are there.

With federal cuts to food assistance already hitting states, and even more coming down the line, the Legislative Finance Committee told state lawmakers that high rates of food insecurity will likely get worse in New Mexico.

Food insecurity among New Mexico's college students could rise due to changes in the nation's food assistance program.

Feeding America has released their annual, Map the Meal Gap study, that takes a look at food insecurity risk from 2023. According to the data, New Mexico ranked fourth in childhood hunger. Now with several funding cuts from the federal level to both assistance programs and food banks, the Roadrunner food bank told KUNM what this could mean for local hunger relief.

The proposed state budget includes $20 million over the next three years for efforts to keep college students enrolled. Some of that money could be used to address high rates of housing and food insecurity among students in New Mexico, which far surpass national averages.

The Legislative Finance Committee said earlier this week that new federal policies — like tariffs and federal funding cuts — would have an outsized effect on New Mexicans, and could increase the cost of groceries in a state that already has a higher than average amount of food insecurity.

Despite some progress like free, universal school meals, Native communities suffer disproportionate levels of food insecurity