What is Food Insecurity?

Food security is a state in which individuals, or families, are unable to access healthy foods or build consistent eating patterns usually due to financial hardship and other problems. Recently, a small group and I started to dive into why Americans are facing the problem of food insecurity, and approaches to how we could find solutions to slow down its effect. While looking through what Food Insecurity is and what it does to the people it affects, I noticed many of the people that experience this unfortunate lifestyle are minorities, especially those that live in low-income areas. In fact, black households are 2 times more likely to experience Food Insecurity when compared to the national average, and hispanics are about 1.5 times more likely. Why exactly might it be that these specific people groups are the ones experiencing this terrible outcome? Let’s take a look into the issues that plague these specific communities and see what might be done to help them.

Where’s all the Business?

It’s no secret that we live in a very capitalistic society. From a young age, we are taught to do our best and work hard so that we can make money and live a great life. So, as we get older, many of the decisions we make become about the economic benefit we may gain through the opportunities we get. This being the case, it’s natural to notice that businesses typically do not work out of impoverished or low-income areas. Many businesses do their best to find areas in which they can make the most profit. A study done by the Woodstock Institute showed that most businesses in San Diego seem to avoid working in low-income areas, as only about 10% of them do.

Now, technically speaking, this is not wrong at all as they are looking out for their own best interest. However, this leaves people in poorer communities, typically those of color, stranded. First, they are unable to find adequate recourses, specifically food, nearby as businesses avoid being there. And most businesses that do set up shop in these areas provide unhealthy, cheap food, so they are forced to buy it and eat unhealthily. A study done by PolicyLink showed that 80 percent of nonwhite residents in Albany, New York are unable to find low-fat milk and high fiber bread. Simply, they do not have any businesses desiring to build near them.

Additionally, if there is no business, people in impoverished areas cannot find well-paying jobs in order to buy the food that they do need. Essentially, they are stuck in this vicious cycle in which they both cannot afford to get food, and don’t have access to it either. An approach to this problem, though quite radical, would be to change the way in which America handles business. There may be a need for the government to intervene more and push companies to move into those low-income areas. This is a very opposite way of thinking and can for sure lead to a lot of backlash. Also, there would be a lot of economic considerations to think about if we were to implement a plan like this.

The Issue of Transportation

Even when people do get the money necessary to buy the quality food they need, many of those in impoverished areas have to think about how they can get to places that sell what they desire. Many of the places they may want to go are quite far away. Along with that, people that live in low-income areas are usually forced to take public transportation as they may not have another mode of transportation to use. A study done by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency, showed that the group that used public transportation in Chicago was the people that had an income of $9,999 or less.

However, public transportation seems to avoid many of these areas that need it the most. The National Association for State Community Services Programs did a study that showed that only 32 percent of rural counties have full access to public transportation, 28 percent have limited access, and 40 percent have no access at all. That’s a large group of people left without a way to go out and get the food that they need. The issue of transportation can be a factor in combating Food Insecurity for low income (and minority) areas. Of course, again, there are many economic implications that go into solving this sort of issue, but doing so could very well lead to a great outcome for millions of struggling Americans.

Why Should this be Solved?

There are many other reasons that the problem of Food Insecurity persists in our country, but these are two big ones. But, what really are the benefits to solving this problem? Well, first, it can indirectly help the problems of both hunger and obesity in America. Those that cannot find any food, or afford it, will be able to get it, and those that can only find unhealthy food, which inhibits their health, can find healthier foods to sustain them. Secondly, proposing a plan to help issues of food in America could help other countries as well. They would have an example to follow and would also work on any problems regarding Food Insecurity there. Solving our own problem can make us a catalyst for change all around the world. It seems not many Americans know, or think about this topic, so it is up to us to make it known and work on it as the people of our generation become the new leaders of the country.