Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food to stay healthy, has been strongly linked to many negative health outcomes and increased healthcare costs.
We have expanded our quality measurement initiatives to include population-level data from our local communities to help identify and address healthcare issues stemming from food insecurity.
A look at the problem: Food insecurity
Food insecurity is a problem that is nearly always found in areas of poverty. As one of the poorest big cities in the United States, many Philadelphia households struggle with both issues at the same time.
One indicator of food insecurity is if a household receives the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Philadelphia households who receive SNAP benefits
The map and table below show the percentage of households who receive SNAP benefits in the zip codes surrounding Penn Medicine’s Philadelphia hospitals. We will update this information to reflect the latest data as our research continues.
Use the drop down to choose a zip code to view the percentage of households who received SNAP benefits in the neighborhoods surrounding Penn Medicine’s Philadelphia hospitals.
|
Zip code |
% of households |
|
19102 |
0.4 |
|
19103 |
4.1 |
|
19104 |
25.7 |
|
19106 |
1.0 |
|
19107 |
11.9 |
|
19123 |
16.6 |
|
19130 |
6.0 |
|
19131 |
25.2 |
|
19139 |
35.4 |
|
19142 |
37.3 |
|
19143 |
33.8 |
|
19145 |
21.1 |
|
19146 |
15.0 |
|
19147 |
9.2 |
|
19148 |
21.5 |
|
19151 |
22.4 |
|
United States |
12.4 |
|
Pennsylvania |
14.4 |
|
Philadelphia |
27.3 |
Source: 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
We are part of the solution: Food insecurity
At Penn Medicine we believe all our patients deserve equal access to high-quality care and a long healthy life.
We recognize that unless we address the underlying inequities, we won't be able to achieve this goal. Our passionate team of physicians, researchers, and staff is committed to addressing these inequities to help drive health and wellbeing for all.
We are using a data-driven approach to identify the areas of greatest food insecurity facing our communities and coordinate actionable plans to address them.
Food relief across the region
Penn Medicine is tackling food insecurity with on-campus offerings and community partnerships that bring fresh, nutritious food directly to patients and neighborhoods. From in-hospital food pantries and nutrition counseling to mobile distributions and community fridges, we’re building healthier futures in Philadelphia and beyond. Learn more about healthy food access.