Hungry for Change: Older Adults & Food Deserts Sheila Holbrook-White, Resource Development Director MyRIDE- Tarrant – MHMR Tarrant Direct: Kasey Whitley, Director of Volunteer and In-Kind Services Catholic Charities Fort Worth Direct: Merrissa Kuylen, Transportation Volunteer Specialist Volunteer Program/Advancement Catholic Charities Fort Worth Direct:

Food Deserts: Elements (As defined by the US Department of Agriculture) Broad Definition: “Urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Elements of an Urban Food Desert: Must meet both low-income and low access criteria: Element 1: Low-income: A census tract in which the poverty rate is 20% or higher; AND/OR A census tract in which the median family income is 80% or less of the metro area’s median family income 2

3 Element 1: Low-Income Census Tracts, Tarrant County, Texas 2010 (Source: USDA, Food Atlas)

Food Deserts: Elements Broad Definition: “Urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Elements of an Urban Food Desert: Must meet both low-income and low access criteria: Element 1: Low-income: A census tract in which the poverty rate is 20% or higher; AND/OR A census tract in which the median family income is 80% or less of the metro area’s median family income Element 2: Low access to healthy foods: A census tract which is located more than 1 mile from a high-quality supermarket or large grocery store; AND A census tract in which, at least, 500 persons and/or 33% of persons in the census tract live more than 1 mile from a high-quality supermarket/large grocery store Nationally, 6,529 census tracts meet these standards. 62% of USDA-defined food deserts are in urban areas 23% of low-income urban tracts are food deserts 4

5 Element 2: Low Access to Healthy Foods, Tarrant County, Texas (2010)

6 Food Deserts, Tarrant County, Texas (2010)

Food Deserts: Selected Impacts ( Impacts of an Urban Food Desert: Decreased access to a supermarket: Associated with limited food options, particularly for whole foods, including fresh vegetables and fruit Associated with a greater risk of obesity Limits buying power, particularly for those with limited income Challenges the effectiveness of government benefit programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Increased travel costs and time cost for residents who seek to connect to a supermarket: Increased stress on budgets Appears to be a factor in food insecurity Source: Economic Research Services Access to Affordable and Nutritious Foods: Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences. US Department of Agriculture. 7

Urban Food Deserts: A General Overview of Those Impacted The Impacted: A greater concentration of all minorities, particularly African Americans The percentage of the population that is African-American is twice as large in urban food deserts than in other urban areas The ethnic/racial concentration holds true even after controlling for income. Neighborhoods with relatively higher rates of unemployment and vacant housing are an important predictor in increasing the probability of a food desert Source: Dutko, Paula; Michele Ver Ploeg, and Tracey Farrigan Characteristics and Influential Factors of Food Deserts. US Department of Agriculture. 8

Urban Food Deserts: The Uniquely Impacted The Uniquely Impacted: “Low-income older adults, ages 60 and older, may be uniquely affected by food deserts because of: Limited transportation options, Strong attachments to local neighborhoods, Fixed incomes, and Physical limitations in food shopping.” (Source: Fitzpatrick, K; Greenhalgh-Stanley, N., and M. Ver Ploeg The Impact of Food Insufficiency and SNAP Participation Among the Elderly.) 9

Urban Food Deserts: The Uniquely Impacted “Seniors without vehicles in food deserts may be most vulnerable to limited food store access.” Older adults are less likely to participate in SNAP than other demographic groups The combined travel and time costs to the nearest supermarket can be prohibitive While transit may be proximate, physical limitations may challenge walking to/from bus stops, handling bags, and/or using public transit Older adults living in food deserts are likely to be women, many living alone Seniors that live in a food deserts and do not own a vehicle are 12% more likely to report food insufficiency Seniors living in food deserts without a vehicle were 8% more likely to skip a meal due to financial constraints (Source: Fitzpatrick, K; Greenhalgh-Stanley, N., and M. Ver Ploeg The Impact of Food Insufficiency and SNAP Participation Among the Elderly.) 10

Transportation and Grocery Shopping in Tarrant County 11

MyRIDE-Tarrant A three-year MHMR Tarrant initiative focused on eliminating transportation barriers for persons with disabilities Provide individualized Transportation Options Counseling via phone, VRS, , text, Twitter, and Facebook Provide Tarrant County Mobility 101 training to health and human services agencies, discharge planners, RNs, clients, and others Using data collected through Transportation Options Counseling and other assessments, MyRIDE-Tarrant develops strategic partnerships and initiatives that support greater mobility for persons with disabilities Funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments 12

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Trip Purpose (August August 2015) 13

Who Needs Assistance With Transportation to Grocery Shop? 14

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Age Range of Callers Who Request Navigation for Grocery Trips 15

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Self-Described Disability of Callers Who Request Navigation for Grocery Trips ( 16

Where Do Those Who Need These Grocery Trips Live and Want To Travel? 17

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Starting Point By City (August August 2015) 18

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Starting Point By Zip Code (August August 2015) 19

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Shopping Destination By City (August August 2015) 20

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Shopping Destination By Zip Code (August August 2015) 21

What Transportation Options Are Recommended? Are Grocery Trips Occurring? 22

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Recommended Options (August August 2015) 23

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Outcomes (August August 2015) 24

MyRIDE-Tarrant: Other Means Used? (August August 2015) 25

Hungry for Solutions: Older Adults and Food Deserts 26

Hungry for Solutions: Healthy Foods Travel to Older Adults ) 27

Hungry for Solutions: Healthy Foods Travel to Older Adults ) 28

Hungry for Solutions: Older Adults Travel to Healthy Foods ) 29

Hungry for Solutions: Tarrant Riders Network Countywide Coalition: Formed in April, 2012 Co-Chaired by Judge Glen Whitley and United Way of Tarrant County CEO Tim McKinney Mission: It is the vision for Tarrant County to ensure consumer and rider focused transportation options that meet the needs of all 30

Hungry for Solutions: Tarrant Riders Network Volunteer Driver Program Network’s First Initiative: Volunteer Driver Program, operated by Catholic Charities Fort Worth Developed to meet the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income families that cannot be currently met by existing transportation options Kicked off officially: June 2015 Developed in a collaboration with older adults, persons with disabilities, human service agencies, elected officials, and low-income families Funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments 31

Hungry for Solutions: Tarrant Riders Network Volunteer Driver Program Passenger Focus: Services to older adults Services to persons with disabilities Geographic Focus: Services throughout the County Special Pilot Focus: Haltom City; Forest Hill; Everman; and Arlington Initiative Focus: Recruit volunteer drivers Train volunteer drivers Deploy volunteer drivers 32

Hungry for Solutions: Tarrant Riders Network Volunteer Driver Program Training October – December 2015 October 1: 6 – 8 p.m. Location: CCFW- Fort Worth October 7: p.m. Location: Tinker House October 15: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Location: CCFW-Fort Worth October 20: p.m. Location: Arlington November 4: 10 – 12 p.m. Location: Tinker House November 5: 6 – 8 p.m. Location: CCFW- Fort Worth November 17: p.m. Location: Arlington November 19: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Location: CCFW- Fort Worth December 2: 10 – 12 p.m. Location: Tinker House December 3: 6 – 8 p.m. Location: CCFW- Fort Worth December 15: 10 – 12 p.m. Location: Arlington December 17: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Location: CCFW-Fort Worth 33

Follow-Up Contacts Sheila Holbrook-White, Resource Development Director MHMR Tarrant Direct: Cell: MyRIDE-Tarrant MHMR Tarrant Toll-Free: Website: Kasey Whitley, Director of Volunteer and In-Kind Services Catholic Charities Fort Worth Direct: Merrissa Kuylen, Transportation Volunteer Specialist Volunteer Program/Advancement Catholic Charities Fort Worth Direct: