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NORC at the University Chicago

Understanding Chicago’s Hunger Crisis

Visual Brief
Stacked bar chart showing the percentage of Chicago households with very low, low, and high or marginal food security. The highest percentage of very low food security households are in the South and West neighborhoods of Chicago (23% and 27%, respectively). There are fewer households with very low food security in the Southwest, Northwest, and North Central regions of Chicago.

October 2026

NORC’s research from a representative survey of Chicago households is summarized in a visual report featuring data graphics that illustrate patterns of food insecurity across the city.

Explore the Report

NORC surveyed Chicago residents through ChicagoSpeaks® to measure food insecurity across the city and identify communities facing the greatest need.

NORC’s study for the Greater Chicago Food Depository found that 36 percent of Chicago households are experiencing food insecurity, with rates varying across neighborhoods and population groups. Using ChicagoSpeaks, NORC conducted a bilingual survey of 1,194 Chicago adults to provide a current, representative picture of food insecurity across the city. The findings provide the Greater Chicago Food Depository with data on the prevalence and distribution of food insecurity, helping inform resource planning, community outreach, and future program development.

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This visualization was created by NORC’s VizStudio, a creative community of experts who turn complex data into compelling visual stories. 

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