21st Century Cities Initiative

Even with their benefits intact, SNAP recipients in Baltimore City and County are at a much higher risk of going hungry than other residents in the region. Our new data report examines the relationship between SNAP benefit recipients and food insecurity in the Baltimore area using data from the 2024 Baltimore Area Survey.

Other Key Findings for Baltimore city and county:
Two in 10 Baltimore-area residents receive SNAP benefits. Three in 10 Baltimore city residents receive SNAP benefits, while one in 10 county residents receive SNAP benefits.

In the Baltimore area, SNAP recipients are at higher risk of going hungry: About two-thirds are food insecure, compared to less than 20% of residents who do not receive SNAP. Nearly half (46%) have very low food security, meaning they are at high risk of experiencing hunger, compared to roughly 10% of residents who do not receive SNAP.

A larger share of SNAP recipients in Baltimore County are at risk of going hungry than those in Baltimore City. Food can be more expensive in the suburbs, grocery stores can be harder to access due to transportation issues, and charities are less dense in the county.

About one in four households with children receive SNAP benefits.

21st Century Cities Initiative Even with their benefits intact, SNAP recipients in Baltimore City and County are at a much higher risk of going hungry than other residents in the region. This data report examines the relationship between SNAP benefit recipients and food insecurity in the Baltimore area using data from the 2024 Ba...

We are deeply grieved by the loss of the Key Bridge, an indelible symbol of Baltimore. We are keeping the families of those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts.

Rescue efforts in Key Bridge collapse now a race against clock Search and rescue efforts have been underway since before daybreak.

"A recent survey from Johns Hopkins 21st Century Cities Initiative found that one in five Baltimore area residents needed to “at least sometimes… reschedule an appointment, skipped going somewhere” or were otherwise inconvenienced by transportation in a 30 day window. That number jumped higher for Black residents, where about 43% of Black Baltimore area residents identified feeling some type of transportation insecurity."

With national spotlight on Baltimore, transportation equity problems shine through South Baltimore residents grapple with spotty public transport and a lack of walkable infrastructure to handle life’s daily needs.