Healthy Food Access: Local Data and Federal Policy

Food Gatherers Food Bank and Food Rescue Program Mission: Washtenaw County Mission: Alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community

Agenda FOOD ACCESS Food Insecurity overview Local Data Food Security (Map the Meal Gap) USDA Food Access Research Atlas HIP Survey Data Food Access Study 2016 SNAP Role of federal funding

Food Security Food insecurity lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food-insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods. Pulled from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap public website

Feeding America Map the Meal Gap 2015

An estimate of need Washtenaw County http://map.feedingamerica.org 49,170 food insecure people 13.9% of population 40% are above SNAP income threshold and likely not eligible for the program 9,000 children (12.8%) 44% likely ineligible for federal nutrition programs (incomes above 185% of poverty) http://map.feedingamerica.org

“This map shows estimates of the number of food insecure people at the census tract level. Darker areas have more people who are likely food insecure. (FOR BACKGROUND) Limitations Our latest version of Map the Meal Gap uses 2013 data, so the food insecurity estimates we use are lagged and may not perfectly represent current food insecure populations or their magnitudes of need.  Additionally, we are deriving estimates of “the need,” aka charitable hunger relief’s target, from reported food budget shortfalls. To the extent respondents’ reported shortfalls are net of food bank-sourced meals (they’re taking these into account), the true need will be understated (we assume most respondents are not answering that way because charitable hunger relief is generally perceived as socially unacceptable).   Finally, because we assume that the entire population lives at the centroid of the census tract, this model is only valid for dimensionally smaller census tracts such as those found in urban and suburban areas.  Please keep this in mind when interpreting the results; to the extent any of the areas of your service area are considered rural, the results for these rural areas should be taken with a grain of salt – if not ignored.  

“This map shows estimates of the POUNDS of food needed to meet the need at the census tract level. Darker areas need more pounds than lighter areas. This takes into account WHERE Food Gatherers is already distributing food, but doesn’t incorporate other factors (such as SNAP utilization, other non-FG affiliated distributions, school meals, etc..) (FOR BACKGROUND) Limitations Our latest version of Map the Meal Gap uses 2013 data, so the food insecurity estimates we use are lagged and may not perfectly represent current food insecure populations or their magnitudes of need.  Additionally, we are deriving estimates of “the need,” aka charitable hunger relief’s target, from reported food budget shortfalls. To the extent respondents’ reported shortfalls are net of food bank-sourced meals (they’re taking these into account), the true need will be understated (we assume most respondents are not answering that way because charitable hunger relief is generally perceived as socially unacceptable).   Finally, because we assume that the entire population lives at the centroid of the census tract, this model is only valid for dimensionally smaller census tracts such as those found in urban and suburban areas.  Please keep this in mind when interpreting the results; to the extent any of the areas of your service area are considered rural, the results for these rural areas should be taken with a grain of salt – if not ignored.  

USDA Food Access Research Atlas

This map is from USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas. It shows Low-income census tracts where a significant  number or share of residents is more than 1  mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest  supermarket.

Washtenaw County HIP Survey Data Every five years the Washtenaw County Health Improvement Plan (HIP) survey is conducted in our community. In 2015, over 2900 adults were interviewed. Participants in the HIP survey were chosen based on a random-digit dial sample (cell phones were included in 2015).  Survey responses are weighted to reflect the demographic characteristics of Washtenaw County.  The data are also available by region of the County and many of the questions can be viewed on a map. Washtenaw County HIP Survey Data

Adults in family reduced food intake due to cost in past year This is lower than the food security rate since food insecurity does NOT always come with reduced food intake. There are sometimes other tradeoffs a family will make (such as eat old food, or purchase less healthy food) They may visit a food pantry to get food and therefore NOT eat less (although they are not food secure if they do not have enough money for food). Adults in family reduced food intake due to cost in past year

Vegetable less than once per day MM thinks this is most likely due to differences in poverty than retail access Vegetable less than once per day

*trying to find survey methodology to read the actual survey question Interesting results as it appears individuals are NOT noting much restriction to F&V based on distance to full service grocery store. When combined w/ info from previous slide, indicates that poverty is more likely issue than proximity to store Fruits and vegetables always or usually limited by distance to full service grocery store

Food Access Study 2016 Collaboration with MSU Center for Regional Food Systems Part of the Michigan Good Food Charter Shared Measurement Project This survey was conducted as part of the Michigan Good Food Charter Shared Measurement project, which aims to catalyze the development of common measures of food system change, foster collaboration in data collection, and build collective capacity for collecting, using and sharing data. The Shared Measurement project is coordinated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, with support from the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition.

Food Access Study 2016 294 surveys collected at 16 sites in Ypsilanti/Ypsilanti Township Farmers markets Senior Centers Low-income housing sites Food pantries Community event or public agency

Food Access Study 2016

Food Access Study 2016

Food Access Study 2016

Food Access Study 2016

Food Access Study 2016 Future Actions Survey additional residents to better understand: Barriers to SNAP and food pantry access SNAP – income and asset criteria Food Pantries – perceptions about eligibility or intended audience Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption Differences between geographic communities

SNAP (FAP/Food Stamps)

SNAP (FAP/Food Stamps) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Federally funded, monthly benefits to purchase groceries for eligible individuals $224 average benefit per case (works out to $126 per person, or $4.20 per day) More than 25,000 recipients each month in Washtenaw County $3.1 million in benefits each month in Washtenaw County Varying gross income guidelines, but household must have NET income be below 100% of poverty line (only adjustment is for household size) to be eligible for program

SNAP (FAP/Food Stamps) 61.8% of SNAP recipients in MI are seniors, children or disabled SNAP rapidly responds to changes in poverty and the economy SNAP supports the economy. $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.70 in economic activity SNAP lifts individuals out of poverty

Farm Bill Federal legislation - updates policies and reauthorizes funding every 5 years 80% of Farm Bill budget is for Nutrition Title SNAP (currently reaching 40+ million Americans) TEFAP and CSFP (smaller but important programs) Agriculture policies and programs E.g., Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Helps fund Double Up Food Bucks

Thank you Resources Eileen Spring, CEO/President, Food Gatherers Feeding America Feedingamerica.org Food Research and Action Center Frac.org Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Cbpp.org Eileen Spring, CEO/President, Food Gatherers eileen@foodgatherers.org