Food insecurity has significant consequences for the population's health, educational outcomes, income, and workforce participation. According to the USDA, a household is considered to be food insecure if, at any time during the previous year, there was a lack of access to sufficient food for a healthy and active life for every household member due to a lack of resources.
In Kootenai in 2020:
- the food insecure population made up 10 percent of the population and numbered 16,420.
- food insecure children made up 14 percent of all children under age 18 and numbered 5,020.
In Kootenai in 2010:
- the food insecure population made up 17 percent of the population and numbered 23,070.
- food insecure children made up 22 percent of all children under age 18 and numbered 7,270.
Between 2010 and 2020, the food insecure population in Kootenai decreased by 29 percent and the number of food insecure children decreased by 14 percent.