Food Insecurity in Washington, D.C.: A Major Issue Exacerbated by the Pandemic
In September of 2020, D.C.’s Mayor Bowser released the “Food Access and Food Security in the District of Columbia: Responding to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” report, which evaluated and examined the food security situation currently impacting D.C. residents [2]. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food security is defined as having “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life” [2]. The D.C. Office of Planning reported that, prior to the onset of the pandemic, the food insecurity rate in the district was 10.6%. By the end of 2020, rates are projected to reach a minimum of 16%, with the most vulnerable populations experiencing a greater burden of insecurity [2].
This is not the first time D.C. residents have experienced greater food insecurity. During the financial crisis of 2008, food insecurity rates in the capital rose to 13% [3]. According to the Washington Post, Bread for the City has more than doubled its food distribution efforts in Washington, D.C. The Washington Post also reported on a very pertinent and pressing issue that correlates with food insecurity: the disproportionate impact on communities of color. They note that compared to white individuals, Black individuals in the district are 13.5 times more likely to experience not having enough food, and Latinx residents are 6.5 times more likely [3]. This correlates with the well-regarded fact that people of color are more likely to get infected and die from the coronavirus [1]. Inequalities in health among various racial and ethnic groups is not only obvious in the rates of COVID-19 but can also be found in other sectors of health.
Not only are minority groups experiencing a greater burden of food insecurity, but children especially are being impacted at greater levels than the rest of the population. Eater DC has reported that 21.6% of children living in the district are currently facing food insecurity [4]. This article has also created a collection of places to donate and help out to mitigate the devastating impact of D.C.’s food insecurity crisis, which can be found here. The resources include Mutual Aid Groups, Volunteer Opportunities, Worker and Restaurant Relief, and Hunger Relief facilities including food banks, food rescue, and food pantries [4].
The D.C. government has been partaking in various relief efforts to combat the rising food insecurity. These efforts include administering bags of groceries to those in need through partnerships with nonprofits, instituting a hotline to provide shelf-stable foods to residents, and working to expand “federal nutrition assistance programs” [2].
Although there are efforts and programs being instituted to aid the current situation, food insecurity will likely be a lingering issue throughout the pandemic. As the world continues to grapple with the deadly impacts of COVID-19, it is important to also consider the various repercussions the virus is having and will have in the years to come-- and to start making plans to combat these issues as they present.
Written by Katie Forth
References
[1] CDC. (2020, April 30). Communities, Schools, Workplaces, & Events. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html
[2] D.C. Office of Planning. (2020, September 29). Mayor Bowser Releases Report on the Current State of Food Access and Food Security in the District | op. https://planning.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-releases-report-current-state-food-access-and-food-security-district
[3] Fadulu, L. (2020, October 1). District’s food insecurity rate estimated to be 16 percent, up from 10.6 percent before pandemic. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-hunger-report/2020/10/01/1770590c-0337-11eb-8879-7663b816bfa5_story.html
[4] Hiatt, G. (2020, August 11). How to Help Fight Food Insecurity in D.C. Eater DC. https://dc.eater.com/2020/8/11/21295541/how-to-help-fight-food-insecurity-in-d-c
[5] USDA ERS - Food Security in the U.S. (2020, September 9). https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/