In New Haven's Food Deserts, A Battle Against Hunger
By Melissa Barclay
When was the last time you went to the grocery store? How long did it take you? Most importantly, what was your mode of transportation?
For many Americans, a trip to the grocery store is a leisurely task. But for other Americans living in areas designated as “food deserts,” access to healthy food is limited. Instead of having access to nutritious food, residents are surrounded by fast food joints which provide cheap, convenient and often unhealthy food.
Locally, some parts in New Haven have been designated as food deserts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The area of Newhallville is just one of the six lowest income neighborhoods in the city. Many residents within this area and the others lack access to healthy food or are starving.
Based on the city's CARE 2015 health survey, hunger rates within these six neighborhoods soar up to 40 percent. In addition, seven out of 10 residents are considered overweight or obese.
To try and combat this issue, the New Haven Food Policy Council has created a new position on its board. The food system director will be responsible for coordinating food-related events which are intended to ease the growing hunger crisis.
The map below highlights Newhallville. The red points show the fast food joints; the points in green indicate the grocery stores. To get to the nearest grocery store, Save-A-Lot in Hamden, residents would have to travel about 1.4 to 1.6 miles. But, fast-food joints, such as Chinese food, are within the neighborhood blocks, and some in walking distance.
When was the last time you went to the grocery store? How long did it take you? Most importantly, what was your mode of transportation?
For many Americans, a trip to the grocery store is a leisurely task. But for other Americans living in areas designated as “food deserts,” access to healthy food is limited. Instead of having access to nutritious food, residents are surrounded by fast food joints which provide cheap, convenient and often unhealthy food.
Locally, some parts in New Haven have been designated as food deserts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The area of Newhallville is just one of the six lowest income neighborhoods in the city. Many residents within this area and the others lack access to healthy food or are starving.
Based on the city's CARE 2015 health survey, hunger rates within these six neighborhoods soar up to 40 percent. In addition, seven out of 10 residents are considered overweight or obese.
To try and combat this issue, the New Haven Food Policy Council has created a new position on its board. The food system director will be responsible for coordinating food-related events which are intended to ease the growing hunger crisis.
The map below highlights Newhallville. The red points show the fast food joints; the points in green indicate the grocery stores. To get to the nearest grocery store, Save-A-Lot in Hamden, residents would have to travel about 1.4 to 1.6 miles. But, fast-food joints, such as Chinese food, are within the neighborhood blocks, and some in walking distance.
Food Director Position
Local organizations such as City Seed have been combating the city’s hunger crisis in these neighborhoods. The food director will supplement these organizations.
Support for the first two years of the position would come from a Boston-based sustainable food foundation that agreed to donate $115,000. After the two years, funding would be stopped, and the position must be included in the city’s budget.
As a part of the New Haven Food Action Plan, establishing the food director position is included as a part of the critical first steps. The director’s role will be to focus on a wide range of food issues within the city.
The position, which has yet to be filled, would be located in the mayor’s office, allowing the director access to other departments.
Advocates for Human Rights
“Food is a basic human right,” Tagan Engel said, as she spoke in front of city council members inside of Hill Regional Career High school’s auditorium.
Engel was just one of more than a dozen residents, along with members of the New Haven Food Policy council, who took turns speaking to city council members earlier this spring.
Engel is also a council member and also on the board for City Seed, which was founded in 2004 to fight hunger in the city.
As a part of the effort, City Seeds brings farmer’s market to the city from May until October. During those months, residents are able to have fresh produce, breads and dairy in their neighborhood.
However, five months out of the year does not provide the residents, like Joanne Ndiaye and her family, with long term access to nutritious foods, or a supermarket.
“[I’m] no stranger to the task of trying to keep a balanced, healthy meal on the table,” said Ndiaye, who also spoke at the city council hearing.
Ndiaye has been a resident of the Hill section of New Haven for the last 10 years. She is also a single mother of five children, and also a beneficiary of the SNAP program.
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is a government program providing food stamps to families who qualify. However, for large families like Ndiaye’s, it is hard to provide enough nutritious meals when limited.
“Like so many other families we depend on SNAP benefits and food pantries to make ends meet from month to month,” Ndiaye said. “There were times we were left to eat foods that were not balanced and healthy.”
Lead photographs via Google Street View, additional photography by Victoria Kent