The Critical Need for Food Security in the Fight Against Poverty

“The question to ask — and answer — is this: How do we make sure everybody in the country can always count on getting the healthy food they need to thrive?”— Dion Dawson

As Dion Dawson’s insightful words suggest, ensuring access to healthy food is crucial for the well-being of individuals and the progress of a nation. The inextricable link between poverty and food security in the United States demands urgent attention.

Unveiling the Statistics

2021 the official poverty rate stood at 11.6 percent, affecting approximately 37.9 million people ([US News]). Research has shown that areas with higher poverty levels face more systemic problems, such as limited access to medical services, affordable food, quality education, and civic engagement opportunities. Notably, these systemic issues are more acute for racial and ethnic minorities. For instance, while the poverty rate for non-Hispanic white Americans was 8.1% in 2021, it was 24.3% for American Indians and Alaska Natives, 19.5% for the Black population, and 17.1% for the Hispanic population.

The Vulnerability of Children

The situation becomes even more alarming when we focus on children. Among the 74 million children living in the United States, 11 million live in poverty. According to The State of America’s Children 2023 report, one in six children under the age of five was poor, marking the highest rate of any age group. Growing up in poverty has a range of negative impacts on children, including increased risks of behavioral, social, emotional, and health challenges. It also adversely affects their ability to learn and achieve academic success.

The Food Insecurity Link

Food insecurity and poverty often go hand in hand. The pandemic forced children who were already in poverty even deeper into it, with 9 million children facing hunger and food insecurity. Food is a basic necessity, and the lack of access to healthy food affects physical health and hampers mental and emotional well-being. The South, home to 47% of the nation’s children living in poverty, experiences the highest child poverty rates, with one in five children living in poverty. Here, 4 million children lacked health insurance, and countless others had limited access to healthy food.

A Call to Action

The words of Matthew Desmond resonate deeply in this context: “The poor don't want some small life. They don't want to game the system. They want to contribute, and they want to thrive. But poverty reduces people born for better things.” West Houston Assistance Ministries is dedicated to helping our neighbors thrive. Our response to the poverty crisis is not to just feed folks, but help them reach self-sufficiency. This is a long term committment to journeying alongside those caught in poverty. We will not rest while the work remains. As Nelson Mandela once stated,

“As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

If you would like to join West Houston Assistance Ministries in addressing poverty, head to our website: https://www.whamministries.org

By Mark Brown

Mark is CEO of West Houston Assistance Ministries, whose mission is to empower and transform neighbors' lives from crisis to self-sufficiency by providing healthy food, financial support, housing, medical resources, education, and job readiness.