With millions of Americans burdened by rising food and housing costs, a recent study by Enterprise Community Partners recognizes the connections between food insecurity and housing insecurity.
There are 49 million Americans suffering from food insecurity, “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” And there are nearly 47 million renters who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing and are considered cost-burdened.
Finding stable, affordable housing can have a huge impact on households, freeing up limited dollars to be used on other necessities, like healthy food and health care. And research shows that proper nutrition can enhance the quality of life and help reduce the risk of many diseases.
The Food at Home report, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, details best practices and shares recommendations on how affordable housing providers can help improve the nutrition of their residents and provide access to healthy food.
Recommendations include:
- Expanding on-site access to healthy foods by partnering with food banks and food pantries and aiding the use of online delivery programs;
- Serving as a resource for more economical bulk purchasing;
- Crafting and coordinating education efforts with schools, public health groups, and other organizations;
- Using resident services and common space to foster healthy eating; and
- Connecting families to healthy foods by encouraging mixed-use development, adopting housing-based solutions, and expanding transit.
To view the full report, visit https://s3.amazonaws.com/KSPProd/ERC_Upload/0091729.pdf.
