Seed Feeds the City -

Food insecurity is define as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or is the inability to acquire nutritious and safe foods due to lack of financial resources or other disruptions. It exists on a spectrum, ranging from anxiety over food supply to actual disruption of eating patterns. Food insecurity is not the same thing as starvation - it is the inability to have what you need to be healthy regularly.

Hamilton County continues to experience significant levels of food insecurity and economic hardship. Approximately 13–14% of residents in the area experience food insecurity, while many households rely on
SNAP benefits to supplement basic nutritional needs. Rising housing costs, inflation, unemployment, and increased economic instability have created additional strain for low-income families and vulnerable individuals.

At the same time, homelessness and housing instability continue to rise throughout the region. Estimates in early summer of 2026 reflect over 4,000 unhoused individuals in Hamilton County. Many people experiencing poverty or homelessness face additional barriers when attempting to access traditional assistance systems, including transportation limitations, disability access concerns, documentation
requirements, stigma, or fear of discrimination.

These barriers often disproportionately impact marginalized populations, including:

•  LGBTQIA+ individuals
• BIPOC Individuals
•  Immigrants and Undocumented Residents
•  Unhoused Individuals
•  Low-income or Single-income Families
• Disabled folks
• Those living with chronic illness or dietary restrictions

Seed Theatre regularly works with individuals who are unable to consistently access nutritious food or who fall through gaps in traditional support systems. Through direct community engagement, we identified the need for expanded and more accessible food distribution models that prioritize dignity, accessibility, and flexibility.