The rising cost of living in North Texas is forcing families to make impossible tradeoffs as they balance necessities like feeding their kids, filling the gas tank and making rent.  

Energy costs in Dallas-Fort Worth jumped nearly 19% over the past year, and one in four Dallas County children faces food insecurity. United Way of Metropolitan Dallas works with more than 200 local partners to help families cover these basics. This summer, there are two ways you can help. 

While inflation may look different from household to household, one thing is clear: higher prices at the gas pump and grocery store are stretching family budgets to their breaking point. 

Why are low-income North Texans struggling to make ends meet? 

Rising gas prices and grocery bills are hurting lower-income residents across our region. In a recent Dallas Morning News article, Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, described the difficult decisions many families face every day: “Can I feed my kids? Can I pay for gas? Can I make my rent payment?” 

Those choices are becoming more common as the cost of transportation and food continues to climb. For families already living paycheck to paycheck, even small increases in essential expenses can create significant financial hardship. 

This summer, transportation costs are a major source of concern for many Americans. According to a poll conducted by health policy organization KFF, rising gas and transportation expenses rank among the top affordability concerns for U.S. adults, tied with healthcare costs. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they were either very or somewhat worried about paying for gas and transportation for themselves and their families. 

For North Texans, those concerns are especially significant. A study by Motley Fool Money found that the average Texan spends about $189 per month on gas. That adds up to nearly $2,400 each year—an expense that can be difficult to absorb for households already struggling to cover housing, childcare and other essentials.  

For families with limited financial flexibility, these increases can force painful tradeoffs. When transportation costs rise, getting to work, school, medical appointments and grocery stores becomes more expensive. And when food costs rise, families may be forced to purchase less food, choose less nutritious options or seek assistance from community organizations. 

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas works alongside more than 200 nonprofit partners to serve approximately 1.7 million people annually across Dallas, Collin, Denton and Rockwall counties. In recent months, our team and other local nonprofit organizations have seen increased demand for services like rental assistance, emergency financial support, and access to groceries and other basic necessities. 

Why is summer harder for struggling families? 

The summer months often place an even greater burden on struggling households. 

When schools close for summer break, many children lose regular access to federally funded school meal programs that help provide reliable nutrition during the academic year. As a result, families must stretch already tight budgets even further to cover additional meals at home. 

This challenge is particularly acute in Dallas County, where one in four children experiences food insecurity. For these children and their families, summer can mean increased uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. 

Combined with higher grocery prices and transportation costs, the loss of school-based meal support creates a perfect storm for many households. Parents and caregivers are left navigating rising expenses while doing everything possible to provide for their families. 

As economic pressures continue to affect communities across North Texas, we are seeing firsthand how rising costs are impacting residents’ ability to meet their most basic needs. The need for support, resources and community partnerships has never been greater. 

How much have gas and grocery prices risen in North Texas? 

At first glance, recent inflation data suggests North Texas is faring better than much of the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual inflation rate in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area was 2.6% as of May 2026, below the national inflation rate of approximately 4.2% during the same period. 

However, the overall inflation rate doesn’t fully capture the challenges many families are experiencing. While core inflation—which excludes food and energy costs—rose just 1.3% over the past year, some of the expenses that have the greatest impact on household budgets increased far more dramatically. 

Energy costs climbed 18.9% year over year, fueled largely by a 35% increase in gas prices. For families who rely on their vehicles to get to work, take children to school and activities, or access healthcare and essential services, those increases can quickly strain tight budgets. 

Food costs also continued to rise, increasing 2.2% over the past year. Although that growth is more moderate than energy costs, it comes on top of years of higher grocery prices.  

For many households, especially those living paycheck to paycheck, lower overall inflation offers little relief when necessities like gas and groceries continue to consume a larger share of monthly income. Families aren’t making financial decisions based on inflation indexes—they’re balancing real-world costs for goods that are non-negotiable to everyday life. And they’re feeling the pinch every time they fill their gas tank, shop for groceries or pay their monthly bills. 

How does United Way help North Texans with rising costs? 

For our neighbors who are struggling to afford necessities like gas and groceries, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas helps to bridge the gap. Together with supporters like you, we positively impact more than 1.7 million North Texans every year—which is more than 20% of our region’s population. 

Our mission in the Dallas area is to improve access to education, income and health—what we call the building blocks of opportunity. These three pillars create a foundation for lifelong health, success and stability. And through our programs and partnerships, together we can ensure our neighbors have the support and resources they need to afford everyday life. 

Here’s just a taste of the impact of our initiatives in North Texas: 

• Last month, our Summer Meals Kickoff connected hundreds of families to free summer meals and other resources that prevent hunger in our community. We partnered with Dallas ISD to serve 750+ hot meals to kids and adults; distributed 400 take-home grocery packs; and hosted 20+ United Way community partners that provided information on free summer meals and year-round food assistance.  

• Our Healthcare Navigators support families shopping for health insurance and connect them with additional resources, including CHIP and Medicaid coverage, food assistance programs and community-based support services. In the last year, our navigators had a significant impact on our community, fielding 21,000 client inquiries, assisting 7,680 individuals as they signed up for CHIP/Medicaid and supporting 2,316 consumers as they enrolled in a qualified health plan.   

• Every spring, thousands of our neighbors access free tax help through United Way. With the support of IRS-certified volunteer tax experts, the average filer saves around $350 in tax preparation and filing fees, plus gets an average refund of $1,700 by claiming all their eligible tax credits and refunds. During our last fiscal year, 19,151 North Texans filed their taxes through our free services and received a total of $15.2 million in refunds.  

These are the types of programs that enable families to reduce their costs and save more money, which strengthens long-term stability across North Texas communities. 

Here’s How You Can Support Our North Texas Neighbors 

This month, there are two powerful ways to support families right here in our community:  

• Donate to United Way: Every dollar raised here stays here to help more North Texans thrive. Just $25 can support grocery distribution pop-ups in Southern Dallas, bringing nutritious food to neighbors who lack access to grocery stores; $50 can enable our summer meal partners to reach more students during the hungriest season of the year; and $200 can provide 25 families with a week’s worth of food items to prevent hunger. 

• Volunteer for Stock the School: It’s almost time for Stock the School, one of the best opportunities of the year to support local students and teachers! By volunteering to refresh and stock teacher workspaces or by donating supplies to our Amazon Wishlist, you help local families and teachers spend less of their own money on back-to-school necessities. Sign up to volunteer for our Friday, August 7 event, or shop our Wishlist anytime.