Food Insecurity in Houston

What are the causes and conditions of food insecurity? If, as a nation, we have enough food, what are the barriers to resources?

This 60-minute virtual session on January 17, 2025 with Houston's Health Equity Collective highlighted the food security context in Greater Houston at the levels of implementation, research, and policy.

It also provided a detailed look at four studies on the exceptional circumstances facing veterans and their families. The roots of hunger, however, are as straight-forward as they are complex and systemic:

• chronic health conditions

• lack of affordable housing

• lack of access to healthy food

• poverty and un(der)employment

• discrimination (race, gender, ethnicity)

These hashtag#sketchnotes in my personal learning journal capture some of the interlocking systemic challenges creating food insecurity for 47 million people in the US, including 5 million in Texas.

Please share if it benefits your colleagues or community.

Alliance to End Hunger - https://lnkd.in/gnvdzTxM
Houston Food Bank - https://lnkd.in/gpeiDr-7
World Food Programme - https://lnkd.in/gz9th9BV
Feeding America - https://lnkd.in/g4kTkjnE

𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗦 & 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

• Celeste Hernandez, Health Promotion Specialist at the Houston Food Bank

• Nipa Kamdar, Researcher, Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness & Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

• Carolina Cano Government Relations Manager at the Houston Food Bank

If you are interested in finding out more about the efforts of the Houston Health Equity Collective Food Security Workgroup, please reach out to the co-chairs:

• Maria Sonsoles de la Cruz, Director of Care Integration, Harris Health System - www.harrishealth.org

• Melanie McGuire, Senior Director of Programs, Houston Food Bank