New Survey Highlights Food Insecurity

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – New findings from the City of Chattanooga Office of Community Health in collaboration with the mayor’s office and Columbia University show food insecurity continues to affect local households, according to a presentation today from a city public health director.

Dr. Derek Anderson, a city public health director, presented the results during a meeting today. He outlined findings from the 2025 Food and Nutrition Security Survey, which collected five hundred two anonymous responses between May and September of last year.

The survey found that one in four households reported food insecurity. Twenty-three percent of respondents reported difficulty affording food, and nine percent reported difficulty accessing it.

Households with children and those including a disability reported higher levels of food insecurity compared to other households.

Cost was identified as the main barrier to eating healthy.  leaders say a new mental health survey will launch in 2026.