4 in 5 Floridians Struggle to Afford Food as Grocery Costs Bite Families

A father in St. Lucie County put it plainly: "We now are in the red every month and using savings to stay afloat."

Four out of five Floridians are struggling to afford food as grocery prices continue to outrun household incomes, according to a new statewide poll. The finding lands hard on the Treasure Coast, where working families are already straining under some of the state's steepest housing costs.

The survey, conducted by Aspect Strategic on behalf of No Kid Hungry Florida, polled 1,021 Floridians ages 18 and older between April 14 and 22, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. The results sketch a portrait of quiet financial collapse: 70 percent of respondents said their financial situation deteriorated over the past year because of food prices, and 49 percent said they have gone deeper into debt just to keep their families fed — a figure nearly unchanged from the prior year.

The choices parents described are stark. About 47 percent of families said they have chosen between buying nutritious food and paying for gas or a car repair. Nearly 38 percent said they faced a decision between making rent or a mortgage payment and feeding their household. For families already navigating Port St. Lucie's crowded rental market or Martin County's climbing home prices, those are not hypothetical trade-offs.

More than a quarter of those surveyed — 27 percent — said they have used "buy now, pay later" services such as Afterpay or Klarna to cover food costs, a signal that grocery bills are now pushing families into short-term consumer debt.

"The cost of food and essentials remains stubbornly high, and Floridians are really struggling," said Sky Beard, director of No Kid Hungry Florida. "We continue to hear about tough trade-offs parents are being forced to make, forgoing time with their children to work multiple jobs, or skipping out on medical care to afford enough healthy food. Florida families deserve better."

Fifty-seven percent of respondents opposed proposed federal cuts to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with nearly half, 47 percent, saying they strongly oppose the reductions. Three in four respondents described SNAP as a critical bridge for families who cannot afford enough food, and more than 60 percent said food assistance programs benefit Florida's broader economy and local businesses.

Nearly half of Florida parents are already choosing between keeping the lights on and feeding their children nutritious food. Proposed cuts to federal food assistance could deepen that pressure for thousands of households in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.

Readers who rely on or qualify for SNAP benefits can contact the Florida Department of Children and Families at 866-762-2237 to check eligibility or status.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.