The last O of the IGLOO model intervention: Food insecurity in Chattanooga

By:  Raiza Barahona and Amira Marquez Moreno

Food insecurity is the lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Some variables related to experiencing food insecurity are unemployment, poverty, and income shocks, which can prevent adequate access to food. The South encapsulates 45% of all US counties, but it is home to about 82% of counties with the highest rates of food insecurity (Hake et al., 2022). Specifically, about 43,600 people in Hamilton County experience food insecurity and 51% are below the SNAP threshold of 130% poverty (Feeding America, 2023). In our county, 23% of the Latino population currently experiences food insecurity (Feeding America, 2023). The percentage of Latinos experiencing food insecurity in Hamilton county is 4% higher than the national average (19.3%) (Hake et al., 2022). According to this data, in 2023, the Latino population may face challenges covering basic food needs. The following report aims to describe the Latino population experiencing food insecurity in Hamilton County, where our Community Partner is located.

Research shows that people with low income are closer to food sources when compared to those who report moderate to high income (Rhohe et al., 2023). However, physical proximity does not guarantee that those with a low income have consistent access to healthy foods. The level of food insecurity is influenced by multiple factors, such as unemployment, poverty, and a lack of financial assets, all of which are vastly experienced by communities of Color (Hake et al., 2022). In 2021, The Southern region experienced a poverty rate of 13.2%, while Hamilton County reported a poverty rate of 12.6% (US Census Bureau). Data split by race shows that 8.6% of Latinos in 2020 experienced poverty, representing 6,080 people below the poverty line (Deloitte, 2022). Therefore, out of the 43,600 people experiencing food insecurity, 6,080 lived below the poverty line in our county.

Other factors such as immigration status, program ineligibility, language barriers, and fear of being discovered can decrease access to programs to improve food security, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to national data, 1 in 3 individuals who live in food-insecure homes may not be eligible for SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program (Hake et al., 2022). Moreover, the impact of food insecurity on our communities comes at a high price, with increased risks for health conditions like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and mental health conditions (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 2022). To make the burden worse, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that all food prices will increase between 3.5 and 4.5 % in 2023 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2022). Therefore, community members must take action to mitigate food insecurity as it is likely to have negative health impacts on our communities.

Local 3 NEWS report about increasing food insecurity in Chattanooga

According to the report, food insecurity has risen since the recesion in 2008, affecting close to 40,000 people in Chattanooga. 

Additional Resources: National and Local Data on Food Insecurity


References

Feeding America. (2023). Map the Meal Gap. https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2020/overall/tennessee/county/hamilton

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. (September 30, 2022). Food Accessibility, Insecurity and Health Outcomes. https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/resources/understanding-health-disparities/food-accessibility-insecurity-and-health-outcomes.html

Rhone, A., Ryan W., and Christopher D., (June 2022). Low-Income and Low- Foodstore-Access Census Tracts, 2015–19, EIB-236, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

U.S Department of Agriculture. (December 22, 2022). Summary Findings Food Price Outlook, 2022 and 2023. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/

United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Quick Facts United States. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045222