body
WHEREAS, pre-pandemic, 21% of Pittsburgh residents experienced food insecurity, meaning that over 60,000 residents struggled to have enough affordable, nutritionally beneficial, and culturally appropriate food to live a healthy, active life; and,
WHEREAS, in 2021, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank reported that the region experienced a 42% increase in food insecurity since 2018, demonstrating the powerful effect of the pandemic on hunger; and,
WHEREAS, Feeding America estimates that 1 in 7 children in the Greater Pittsburgh area face hunger today; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is committed to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2 of Zero Hunger and making Pittsburgh a food secure City; and,
WHEREAS, the FeedPGH Report (2020) outlines food insecurity within the City and identifies 23 Healthy Food Priority Areas for policy action; and,
WHEREAS, food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are the first line of defense in fighting food insecurity through proven methods that lift families out of poverty, and directly put money into the local food economy; and,
WHEREAS, US Census data (2020) estimates that over 16,000 residents in the City who are living below the poverty level are not receiving SNAP benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the first cohort of the Pittsburgh Food Equity Ambassadors recommends that the City ensures all eligible residents are enrolled in SNAP by expanding existing enrollment programs and developing new initiatives to increase enrollment; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of City Planning, the Office of Community Health and Safety, and CitiParks, along with external partners from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, The Food Trust, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and Just Harvest have collaborated on campaigns to increase SNAP enrollment; and,
WHEREAS, it is the start of our local farmers market season, and through Just Harvest's Fresh Access program, residents c...
Click here for full text