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Date: 10/26/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The City Council’s Working Group on Neighborhood Quality of Life discussed the issue of food insecurity in the city and ways to mitigate during its Oct. 17 meeting.
Member Steven Hooper shared that food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough food for all household members. This happens due to scarcity of affordable housing, health problems, social isolation, low wages and high medical care costs.
He said that one out of six children in the United States are affected by food insecurity as well as one in four African Americans and Latinos, while a total of 63% of senior households must choose between food and medical care.
Hooper went on to say that hunger is caused by natural disasters, political and economic instability, inflation, poverty, climate change, low education levels, poor market access and unemployment.
Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan, also chair of the working group, said Springfield has been designated as a food desert, meaning that most, if not all, residents do not have access to healthy and affordable food.
She noted that healthy foods can sometimes be more expensive than a fast-food restaurant, for instance.
Govan shared that some time ago, there was a push to develop more community gardens, which have been created, however, she said this needs to continue. “That’s a great way for people to have healthy, affordable food that they grow themselves,” she added.
Govan asked meeting participants to share ideas on how to mitigate this.
Member Shayvonne Plummer said community gardens are good but suggested the idea of having raised garden beds donated to the city. She went on to say that the city plants trees and offers free soil. With the access to free materials, Plummer said people can start their own garden — even if it is small — right outside their window.
She explained that rooftop gardens are a larger discussion for the city as there are rules and regulations. If some of the policies around permitting and barriers are limited, Plummer said there could be more community gardens.
Another participant said the community gardens are a good idea, but it is not enough to address the magnitude of the problem. He suggested that there should be a citywide infrastructure program where an urban agricultural infrastructure is created and the city parks system is utilized to share crops and go right to farmers markets in every neighborhood.
The Working Group on Neighborhood Quality of Life, which was formed in the beginning of the year, was tasked with looking at ways to improve quality of life in Springfield.
The working group’s last meeting will take place on Nov. 14.