Food Insecurity in NYC: A Growing Concern
More than a million people currently face food insecurity in NYC, struggling to afford basic nutrition to keep themselves and their families fed. That number includes not only homeless individuals but also other New Yorkers facing high costs of living, according to nonprofit and government agency leaders.
Rethink Food: Bridging the Gap
During Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Matt Jozwiak, co-founder and CEO of Rethink Food, is spotlighting the importance of alleviating high costs of food, high prices, and food insecurity around the Big Apple. He said it is not only homeless New Yorkers who experience hunger but middle and low-income earners, too.
"We think it’s great we’re getting people to talk about it, but it’s really about wealth and equality," Jozwiak said. "In New York, you have two different economies. The super-wealthy and then a subset of people who are not able to make ends meet. They can’t afford the $16 salad. It’s hard to live."
Combatting Food Insecurity
To combat this new look of hunger, Rethink Food works to bridge the gap between excess food so often made in restaurants and people in need. The organization partners with around 50 cafes, delis, and restaurants to prepare and deliver more than 30,000 meals a week to local community-based organizations in all five boroughs.
"Restaurants provide so many benefits to neighborhoods because the people who work there get to eat for free," Jozwiak said. "Almost every restaurant in the city has at least one free meal a day for the staff. If you take all the restaurants in NYC and put it together, that would probably be the biggest food insecurity nonprofit in New York."
Food Insecurity in NYC
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is a nationwide effort, organized by the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, and other groups, aims to increase public understanding of food insecurity and housing challenges.
As costs of living and inflation continue to surge across the states, the statistics on food insecurity locally are grim. According to recent data on food insecurity in NYC from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2024 report, over one million people experience food insecurity, or about 15% of the population.
The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy
The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy is currently organizing initiatives to address hunger. Through its Community Food Connection (CFC) program, the department funds various kitchens and food pantries across the city.
"The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy advances policies and programs to ensure that all New Yorkers have multiple ways to access healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food," MacKenzie said. "The key to eliminating food insecurity is to enable New Yorkers to have stable incomes with wages and salaries that enable self-sufficiency."
Conclusion
Food insecurity is a growing concern in NYC, affecting not only homeless individuals but also middle and low-income earners. Organizations like Rethink Food and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy are working to bridge the gap between excess food and people in need. By supporting local restaurants and community-based programs, we can work together to eliminate food insecurity in the city.
FAQs
Q: What is food insecurity?
A: Food insecurity is the inability to access enough food to lead a healthy and active life.
Q: Who is affected by food insecurity in NYC?
A: According to recent data, over one million people experience food insecurity in NYC, or about 15% of the population.
Q: What is Rethink Food doing to address food insecurity?
A: Rethink Food partners with around 50 cafes, delis, and restaurants to prepare and deliver more than 30,000 meals a week to local community-based organizations in all five boroughs.
Q: What is the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy doing to address food insecurity?
A: The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy is funding various kitchens and food pantries across the city through its Community Food Connection (CFC) program.
