A new client survey from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley finds that 96% of respondents are cutting back on food to afford basic necessities like rent, utilities and healthcare, a sign of mounting financial pressure on households across the region. At the same time, historic cuts to federal food and healthcare safety net programs set to go into effect in June will leave major gaps in the support systems families rely on, putting more pressure on households and pushing more people to food banks to meet basic needs.
The findings underscore how quickly that strain is deepening across Silicon Valley. Second Harvest is now serving 1 in 6 residents each month, reflecting how widespread the need has become even among working families. Rising costs for housing, healthcare, gas, utilities and food continue to outpace wages, leaving many households with fewer options and forcing difficult tradeoffs just to get by:
- 96% of clients surveyed are cutting back on food to afford other necessities
- 66% are worried about healthcare costs amid changes to federal programs and the elimination of Affordable Care Act subsidies
- 58% are worried about being able to pay next month’s rent or mortgage
- Nearly 9 in 10 households served include someone who is employed, retired or living with a disability
In Silicon Valley, food insecurity is driven less by unemployment and more by rising costs that continue to outpace wages — even for working households. The majority of households receiving support have at least one person working, yet many still struggle to afford enough nutritious food and meet basic needs from month to month.
Martha, a 50-year-old Redwood City resident, said she’s working longer hours but still struggling to keep up with basic expenses.
“I have to work more to make up for the money I don’t have in my pocket now. I’ll be working about 50 to 60 hours a week to make ends meet, and it’s still not enough.”
Grocery prices in the Bay Area have risen 26.8% over the past five years, and nearly half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to the 2026 Silicon Valley Index published by Joint Venture Silicon Valley. The organization also reports that fuel costs have risen 33% in the Bay Area since the beginning of the year. For families already stretched thin, rising costs across essentials mean fewer groceries, smaller portions and harder choices.
Affordability challenges are expected to intensify in the months ahead. A series of phased federal safety net cuts enacted under the budget bill H.R. 1 represent one of the most sweeping rollbacks of safety net programs in decades — threatening to unravel critical supports that help families stay nourished, healthy and financially stable. The cuts to SNAP, known as CalFresh in California, are expected to reduce food assistance for 130,000 Santa Clara County residents who currently receive about $25.5 million in monthly benefits. At the same time, deep reductions to Medicaid and the loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies will increase healthcare costs, placing even greater pressure on household budgets already stretched by the high cost of living. Together, these historic cuts will make it harder for families, older adults, workers and children across our region to access the food, healthcare and stability they need to thrive — forcing more households to navigate impossible tradeoffs between groceries, medicine, housing and other essentials.
These pressures are especially acute for those on fixed incomes.
Klaus, a 78-year-old senior in San Mateo County who continues working as a caregiver and rideshare driver, shared the strain of living on a fixed income.
“My Social Security doesn’t even pay the rent.”
These findings reflect the experiences of many neighbors across Silicon Valley.
“Behind every number in this survey is a person making difficult tradeoffs — parents skipping meals so their kids can eat, seniors stretching limited incomes, families doing everything they can to keep up with rising costs. When the cost of housing, healthcare and food all rise at the same time, something has to give, and too often, it’s food,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
The survey also highlights the importance of consistent access to nutritious food. 97% of clients said the food they receive from Second Harvest improves their wellbeing — a critical finding as more neighbors face the prospect of losing healthcare coverage while also cutting food budgets to cover rising medical costs.
A recent video from Second Harvest shows how volunteers, partners and neighbors are working together to meet growing need across Silicon Valley. As one of the largest food banks in the nation, Second Harvest provides nutritious food — including fresh produce, protein, dairy and pantry staples — free of charge to nearly 400 partner organizations at more than 900 sites across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
“Hunger in Silicon Valley doesn’t look the way many people expect. Many of our neighbors are working, raising families or living on fixed incomes — contributing to this community and still struggling to afford the basics,” Bacho said. “Having reliable access to nutritious food means families don’t have to make impossible choices between groceries and other essentials. It brings a sense of stability when so much else feels uncertain.”
Individuals, corporations and organizations can make an immediate impact. A $50 donation helps provide enough food for 100 meals. Visit shfb.org or call 1-866-234-3663.
Get Help with Groceries
Second Harvest connects neighbors to grocery distributions across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and provides enrollment support for CalFresh and other food assistance programs. The multilingual Food Connection hotline is available at 1-800-984-3663, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Three-way interpretation is available for other languages. Second Harvest also offers a food locator tool at shfb.org/get-food, searchable by address, city or ZIP code.
About Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Founded in 1974, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is one of the largest food banks in the nation and a trusted nonprofit leader in ending local hunger. The organization distributes nutritious food through a network of nearly 400 partners at more than 900 sites across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Due to the prohibitively expensive cost of living in Silicon Valley and increased prices caused by inflation, Second Harvest is serving 1 in 6 people every month. Second Harvest also connects people to federal nutrition programs and other food resources, and advocates for anti-hunger policies on the local, state and national levels. To learn more about how Second Harvest is responding to the incredible amount of need in Silicon Valley, visit shfb.org.
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