Helping to address food insecurity
Los Angeles County has awarded close to $10 million in community grants to ease food insecurity. Nearly three dozen community-based organizations gathered at Alma Backyard Farms in Compton to celebrate receiving federally funded L.A. County Grants to alleviate food insecurity in our region’s most vulnerable communities.
The grants will help to fund a wide array of food-related work conducted by local nonprofits to improve access to nutritious and affordable food in communities of color and immigrant populations. The funds have been made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, which earmarked nearly $1.9 billion for Los Angeles’ post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Nearly 1 in 3 county residents experienced food insecurity last year. Food insecurity is defined as insufficient access to a sufficient quantity of healthy food to feed an individual or an individual’s family. Black and Brown families have a drastically higher food insecurity rate. Food insecurity can lead to several health issues.
“The County has a responsibility to act as a safety net for our most vulnerable communities, who disproportionately suffer from food insecurity,” said L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who helped create the Food Equity Roundtable. “This new round of funding marks an important first step in bringing the Roundtable’s Action Plan to life and helping those most in need.”
Food production organizations reflect a wide range of diversity from ALMA Backyard Farms’ urban agriculture programs in Compton to Street Company’s efforts to help feed the homeless in Lancaster. Food access groups receive funds which include Prosperity Markets, a one-of-a-kind Black farmers market and commerce hub for Black food and producers and chefs. Nutritional education includes Feast which offers 16-week in-home food-wellness programs that provide services to disadvantaged communities.
Benefits enrollment aims to increase the number of eligible families who complete applications for government food assistance programs. Nearly 400,000 County residents are eligible for CalFresh benefits but have not enrolled, often because of fears about immigration status. Among the groups looking to close the gap are Hunger Action L.A., the National Health Foundation, and Neighborhood Legal Services of L.A. County.
